Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in a US state in decades

Florida is currently experiencing the largest dengue outbreak in several decades, according to state health officials. Nearly 300 locally acquired cases have been reported so far this year, with the majority in Hillsborough County, home to Tampa. While Puerto Rico typically sees higher numbers of dengue cases, Florida usually leads among the 50 states in terms of locally transmitted infections.

The previous record for a single year in Florida was set in 2023, with just under 200 locally spread cases. The outbreak, which began in July, has surpassed a previous record set in Hawaii in 2015-2016, where 264 locally acquired cases were reported.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus, and many infected individuals do not show symptoms. However, some people experience fever, flu-like symptoms, and severe pain. Severe cases can lead to bleeding, shock, and death. There is currently one dengue death in Florida this year, reported in an elderly Tampa woman on September 4.

Four types of dengue virus exist, and if someone gets infected with a different type after being initially infected, it can complicate their immune response and potentially worsen the infection.

The main mosquito species responsible for transmitting dengue are found in Florida and other warmer U.S. regions, but their range is expanding due to climate change. The outbreak in Tampa, which began in July, is the largest in a single year for any U.S. state since at least the 1940s. While most of the cases are locally acquired, a significant number are also the result of travelers returning from regions where dengue is present, such as Puerto Rico.

The current outbreak is centered just north of Tampa, where workers have been spraying pesticides and checking for breeding sites to control the mosquito population. Preventive measures for the public include using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed.