Tampa Bay Dengue Outbreak Grows to 485 Cases as Counties Extend Emergency Declarations

Florida health officials have confirmed 485 locally acquired cases of dengue fever this year, marking the state’s largest outbreak in decades. Between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 alone, state surveillance recorded 60 new infections, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The Tampa Bay area accounts for roughly 95% of all locally acquired dengue cases reported statewide. These figures are separate from more than 300 travel-associated dengue cases that have also been logged in Florida this year.

Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties declared states of emergency in late September in response to the spread, a step that allows local governments to speed up purchasing and spraying operations and to seek reimbursement from state and federal sources. Hillsborough County has since extended its emergency declaration as transmission continues.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association said abatement crews are expanding targeted ground spraying, aerial applications and inspections of individual properties across the affected region.

How the virus spreads

Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Symptoms can include fever, severe muscle and joint pain, nausea and rash, with severe cases leading to dangerous complications or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unlike mosquitoes that bite mainly at dawn and dusk, the Aedes species that carry dengue feed aggressively during the day and thrive in humid residential settings — conditions common across the Tampa Bay region.

“The Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit dengue are active during the day and thrive in warm, humid environments like those found in Florida,” an entomologist spokesperson at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science and Family Health told Fox News Digital. “Staying aware of local mosquito activity and consistently protecting against bites are important steps people can take to help reduce their risk.”

What residents can do

Public health officials note that Aedes mosquitoes are “container breeders” that need as little as a tablespoon of standing water to lay eggs. Residents are urged to check their yards weekly and drain or cover birdbaths, gutters, planters, discarded tires and other outdoor containers that can collect water.

Most people infected with dengue experience mild symptoms or none at all and recover within about two weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. When symptoms do appear, they typically surface four to 10 days after an infectious bite, and severe dengue can worsen rapidly within 24 to 48 hours after the initial fever subsides.

Warning signs of severe illness include persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, mucosal bleeding and extreme lethargy. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.