Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are confronting a sharp rise in locally‑acquired dengue fever, with the total count in the Tampa Bay area reaching 33 this week. The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) said the surge has led county mosquito‑management services to step up surveillance, inspections, and both aerial and ground spraying to curb the spread of the disease.
Current numbers and spread
The FMCA reports that Florida has recorded more than 40 confirmed locally‑acquired dengue cases this year, including 30 in Hillsborough County, three in Pinellas County, seven in Miami‑Dade County, and one in Palm Beach County. The Bay Area’s jump from 10 cases earlier this summer to 33 underscores the urgency of the response.
In Hillsborough County, mosquito traps have detected dengue virus in 10 separate mosquito pools, prompting officials to target treatment zones across the county. The county’s Mosquito Management Services announced additional aerial applications scheduled for South Tampa, Ybor City, and the Hyde Park area, with contingency dates set if weather interferes.
County actions
Hillsborough crews will conduct aerial spraying over Seffner, Brandon, South Tampa, and Ybor City, while ground crews focus on fogging and door‑to‑door inspections to locate breeding sites on private property. The Hyde Park spray window runs from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, covering an area bounded by I‑275, Bayshore Boulevard, the Hillsborough River, and Hillsborough Bay. A similar early‑morning operation is planned for Ybor City on Wednesday.
Pinellas County Mosquito Control is also expanding its response, concentrating on daytime fogging in Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg and maintaining county‑wide surveillance. Director Alissa Berro emphasized that dengue does not respect county lines; when an infected person travels, local mosquitoes can become carriers and spread the virus to new neighborhoods.
What residents can do
Health officials are urging the public to follow the “3 Ds” to protect themselves and their families:
- Dress: Wear light‑colored, long‑sleeved shirts and closed‑toed shoes when outdoors.
- Defend: Apply an EPA‑registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Dump: Eliminate or cover any standing water around the home—buckets, plant saucers, tires, toys, or other containers can become breeding grounds.
Even a small amount of water can support the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for dengue, which bites during daylight hours.
Health impact
Dengue fever can cause flu‑like symptoms, including high fever, severe muscle and joint pain, and sometimes a rash. The illness is sometimes called “break‑bone fever” because of the intense aches it can produce. Symptoms typically appear within 15 days of a bite, and the disease is not spread through casual person‑to‑person contact.
Anyone experiencing fever, severe pain, or rash after a mosquito bite should contact a health‑care provider and mention possible dengue exposure.
Looking ahead
County and state health officials expect the weekly report to show continued increases as surveillance expands. They stress that community participation—removing standing water and using repellent—is essential to breaking the transmission cycle.
For more information or to report mosquito‑breeding sites, residents can call Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services at 813‑635‑5400.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
