Florida health officials reported that the dengue outbreak in the Tampa Bay area remains active, with 92 of the state’s 100 locally acquired cases for the week of Nov. 1‑7 coming from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The continued spread matters to residents because dengue can cause severe flu‑like symptoms, hospitalization, and, in rare cases, death.
According to WUSF, Hillsborough County saw the highest weekly increase, adding 61 new cases during the latest reporting period. The county now totals 468 infections since the outbreak began in July, including the death of an 80‑year‑old Tampa woman in September. Earlier in October the county recorded 62 cases, and the week of Oct. 25‑31 saw only 22 new infections, the fewest since August.
Pinellas County reported its largest weekly count this year with 29 new cases, bringing its month‑to‑date total to 54 and its cumulative tally since August to 109. Pasco County added two more cases, raising its total to six.
Statewide, the total number of locally acquired dengue infections since July stands at 624. Orange and Miami‑Dade counties each added four cases in the same week. The Florida Department of Health also noted 40 new cases linked to international travel during the week of Nov. 1‑7, raising the year‑to‑date travel‑related count to 422.
The outbreak is the largest dengue surge in the United States in decades. The previous high was 199 cases in 2023, while the state reported only 62 cases last year.
In response, Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise extended the local state of emergency through Nov. 19. The emergency order, which must be renewed every seven days, cites that “areas of concern for disease transmission requiring mitigation efforts currently encompass over one‑half of Hillsborough County and are continuing to spread.”
Health officials continue to advise residents to use insect repellent, wear long pants and sleeves, and eliminate standing water where Aedes mosquitoes breed. Mosquito‑borne illness alerts remain active in Alachua, Citrus, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami‑Dade, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas and Seminole counties, with advisories also posted in Bay, Brevard, Broward, Columbia, Holmes, Leon, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Polk, Sarasota and Walton counties.
What’s next: The county emergency will expire on Nov. 19 unless further extended. Residents should stay informed of any updates from the Florida Department of Health and continue preventive measures to reduce mosquito exposure.
Sources: wusf.org
