Florida ramps up mosquito control as dengue cases rise statewide

Florida mosquito-control agencies are expanding surveillance, property inspections and aerial spraying as they anticipate a rise in locally acquired dengue fever cases across the state. As of Sept. 1, the Florida Department of Health recorded 33 cases in the Tampa Bay area and 41 cases statewide.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association said 30 of the confirmed cases are in Hillsborough County, seven in Miami-Dade, three in Pinellas and one in Palm Beach. Both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts.

"Dengue does not stop at county lines," Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro told local media. "When someone infected with dengue enters a new area, a local mosquito can bite that person and later spread the virus to others."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes dengue can cause fever, severe aches, rash and, in rare instances, life-threatening complications. The virus is common in tropical regions and has become the most reported mosquito-borne disease in the United States this year, with 3,798 cases nationwide, a 359% increase over the 2010-2023 average.

Florida accounted for the highest number of U.S. cases, reporting 1,044 infections, including 85 locally acquired cases across ten counties. In response, mosquito-control crews are increasing both aerial and ground treatments in areas where the virus has been detected and are inspecting private properties for breeding sites.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association urges residents to eliminate standing water in containers such as buckets, planters and tires, and to follow the "three Ds": dress in long sleeves and light colors, use insect repellent containing DEET or similar agents, and regularly dump or cover water-holding objects.

Health officials remind the public that many infected individuals show no symptoms, but severe dengue can develop quickly and requires immediate medical attention.