Florida records its largest dengue outbreak in decades
More than 250 locally transmitted dengue cases have been confirmed in Florida this year, making it the biggest outbreak in the continental United States since the 1940s.
Florida health officials said the state has recorded over 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, the highest number for any U.S. state in a calendar year since at least the 1940s. Most infections have been reported in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, prompting local emergencies and continuous mosquito-spraying operations.
The outbreak follows a 2023 surge of just under 200 cases and surpasses the previous record set by Hawaii in 2015-2016, which reported 264 cases. The World Health Organization estimates more than 2.2 million dengue infections worldwide this year, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes nearly 1,900 locally acquired cases nationwide, the majority in Puerto Rico.
Experts attribute the rise to persistent warm-weather mosquito populations and increased travel from dengue-endemic regions. "Florida tends to get a lot of dengue because the state receives many travelers who have been to Puerto Rico or other places where the disease is present," said Dawn Wesson, a Tulane University researcher.
The CDC has provided $800,000 in assistance but has not deployed investigators, as state officials have not requested their involvement, according to CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald.
Public health advisers recommend using EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, wearing long sleeves and pants, staying indoors behind screens or air conditioning, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed. Wesson warned that climate conditions and persistent mosquito populations could make local dengue outbreaks a more frequent problem, adding, "There's a good chance that this is the new normal."