Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades
Florida's current dengue outbreak appears to be the largest in several decades in the continental United States.
Florida is experiencing its largest dengue outbreak in decades, with over 250 locally acquired cases reported this year, according to the Florida Department of Health. The majority of these cases have been concentrated in Hillsborough County, home to Tampa. State health officials have declared local emergencies and are actively spraying to control the mosquito population.
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, is caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. While most infected individuals do not show symptoms, some experience fever, flu-like symptoms, and severe pain, which has earned it the nickname "breakbone fever." Severe cases can lead to bleeding, shock, and death. There has been one recorded death in Florida this year.
The virus has four types, and previous infections provide lifetime immunity to the specific type contracted but may lead to more severe reactions if infected with a different type. Most people in the Tampa area lack immunity to dengue, as most infections in the continental U.S. have been linked to international travel. However, the first locally acquired cases in the U.S. outside the Texas-Mexico border since 1945 were reported in Key West in 2009-2010.
The current outbreak in Florida, which began in July, is on track to surpass the previous record set in 2023, with nearly 200 locally transmitted cases. The state's previous worst year was in 2023. The Tampa outbreak is already surpassing the largest outbreak in Hawaii in 2015-2016, which reported 264 locally acquired cases. Florida tends to see more dengue cases than other U.S. states due to the large number of travelers visiting from Puerto Rico and other affected regions.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not been heavily involved in this outbreak, it has provided $800,000 in assistance to the Florida health department. Public health officials advise residents in outbreak areas to take preventive measures, such as using insect repellents containing DEET, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Experts predict that climate change and persistent mosquito populations may lead to more frequent local dengue outbreaks in the future.
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