Florida has recorded 152 locally acquired dengue fever cases so far this year, making 2026 the state’s second-highest year for local transmission on record, according to the Florida Department of Health. The current total, reported through September 12, trails only 2023, when nearly 200 locally acquired cases were recorded.
Statewide, Florida has recorded 338 dengue cases this year when infections linked to international travel are included. Of the 152 locally acquired cases, 134 have been reported in Hillsborough County. The remaining infections have occurred in Orange, Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Pasco, and Palm Beach counties.
The situation has become particularly serious in Hillsborough County, where health officials confirmed the state’s first dengue-related death of the year. An 80-year-old Tampa woman died September 4, and the Florida Department of Health later confirmed that locally acquired dengue was the cause of death.
The latest numbers come as Orange County, which includes the city of Orlando, deals with its own cluster of locally acquired infections. After confirming a case in the Pine Hills area on September 2, Orange County announced two additional cases in the Apopka area on September 18. The new cases led to a mosquito-borne illness alert and an expansion of local mosquito-control efforts.
How Dengue Fever Spreads
Dengue does not spread through person-to-person contact. Instead, the virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti, but also Aedes albopictus, both of which are found in Florida.
Unlike many mosquito species that are most active around sunrise, sunset, or overnight, these mosquitoes tend to bite during the day. They often live near people and can breed in surprisingly small amounts of standing water. Flowerpots, buckets, gutters, outdoor toys, pet bowls, garbage and recycling bins, and other containers can collect enough water to become breeding sites.
Recognizing Symptoms
Dengue can be difficult to recognize because many infected people never develop symptoms. When illness does occur, symptoms generally include a sudden fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and intense muscle, joint, or bone pain. Nausea, vomiting, and a rash can also develop. Symptoms generally begin four to 10 days after an infected mosquito bite.
Warning signs can include severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, extreme drowsiness or restlessness, and organ failure. Infants, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with certain underlying conditions, including diabetes, obesity, or kidney disease, may face a greater risk of complications. Without proper treatment, severe dengue can be fatal in up to 10% of cases.
How to Protect Yourself
There are currently no dengue vaccines available in the United States, making protection against mosquito bites the best way to reduce the risk of infection.
The CDC advises using insect repellent and covering exposed skin with loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing and pants when outdoors. Residents can also help prevent mosquito breeding by removing standing water from around their homes and regularly checking their property for areas where water may collect.
Orange County mosquito-control crews have been conducting targeted treatments in affected areas and monitoring mosquito populations for signs of continued transmission.
Major theme parks in Orange County, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, also use mosquito-management measures across their properties. Those efforts can reduce mosquito populations, although they cannot eliminate the possibility of encountering an infected mosquito.
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