Florida records first dengue-related death in 2026

The Florida Department of Health confirmed on Friday that Gay Small, an 80-year-old resident of Hillsborough County, died on Sept. 4 from septic shock and multi-organ failure caused by dengue fever. The infection was traced to a mosquito bite she received near her home on Bayshore Boulevard.

Small’s daughter, Anna Small, said her mother had been in good health and that the virus appeared suddenly after the bite. The family believes the infection may have been acquired years earlier while traveling abroad, a factor that can increase the risk of severe disease upon re-exposure.

University of South Florida public-health instructor Kristi Miley noted that a dengue death has not been recorded in the Tampa Bay area for nearly a century. Since July, Florida has seen an unprecedented rise in locally acquired dengue cases, with Hillsborough County identified as the epicenter of the outbreak.

Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro warned that mosquitoes typically remain within a limited range, but human movement can spread the virus to new areas. Local authorities have intensified aerial and ground insecticide applications, larvicide treatments, and property inspections to curb mosquito breeding.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association urged residents to eliminate standing water and follow the “three Ds”: dress in long sleeves and light colors, use repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and dump or cover containers that hold water. The CDC notes that while most dengue infections are mild, severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications and require immediate medical attention.