Florida reported 44 new regionally acquired dengue circumstances in its newest weekly surveillance report, bringing the state’s 2026 complete to 296. The Florida Division of Well being’s Week 39 report, masking Sept. 27 via Oct. 3, additionally exhibits that Broward County has turn out to be the eighth Florida county with native unfold this 12 months.
Broward had one regionally acquired case with sickness onset in September, based on the state report. Regionally acquired means the particular person was contaminated by a mosquito in Florida slightly than whereas touring, an indication that the virus is circulating in native mosquito populations.
The state additionally expanded its record of counties below mosquito-borne sickness advisories. Broward, Holmes, Manatee and Martin now be a part of Brevard, Leon, Palm Seaside, Polk and Walton. Seven counties stay below the stronger alert stage: Alachua, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pasco and Pinellas.
Tampa Bay Nonetheless Drives the Depend as Unfold Reaches Broward
The outbreak stays centered in Tampa Bay. Hillsborough County accounts for 259 of the 296 native circumstances, or about 88%, based on the state knowledge. Hillsborough rose from 223 to 259 circumstances in a single week, and Pinellas County rose from 13 to twenty.
Different counties reporting native circumstances this 12 months are Miami-Dade with eight, Orange and Pasco with three every, and Broward, Palm Seaside and Polk with one every. Miami-Dade’s complete didn’t change from the earlier week.
The weekly improve was smaller than the week earlier than. The state reported 62 new native circumstances in its Week 38 report and 44 in Week 39. One week doesn’t make a development, and circumstances are sometimes reported after a delay.
MedicalDaily beforehand reported that the outbreak had reached 252 native circumstances with Polk because the seventh affected county. The latest knowledge add Broward to a South Florida space the place Miami-Dade and Palm Seaside had already reported native circumstances.
South Florida Households and the Journey Connection
Broward’s single native case doesn’t imply residents face the identical danger as folks in Hillsborough. It does imply the virus has probably been unfold by native mosquitoes in one other a part of the state.
South Florida additionally reviews many of the state’s travel-related dengue. Florida has recorded 262 travel-associated dengue circumstances this 12 months, together with 215 linked to journey to Cuba, based on the state report. Miami-Dade reported 160 of these circumstances and Broward 20, Outbreak Information At the moment reported, citing state knowledge.
Journey circumstances matter as a result of an area mosquito can chew an contaminated traveler after which go the virus to somebody who by no means left the world. Almost all native circumstances with a identified kind this 12 months contain DENV-2, the state report exhibits. State testing has additionally detected the virus in 20 swimming pools of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, 19 in Hillsborough County and one in Pasco County.
An 80-year-old Tampa girl died of dengue on Sept. 4, and the state confirmed the reason for demise later that month, WUSF reported. The Week 39 report didn’t record any new deaths.
Signs, Warning Indicators and Who Faces Higher Threat
About one in 4 folks contaminated with dengue get sick. Signs can embody fever with aches and pains, ache behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, and rash. The CDC’s dengue symptom information lists warning indicators of extreme dengue, together with stomach ache or tenderness, vomiting a minimum of 3 times in 24 hours, bleeding from the nostril or gums, vomiting blood or blood within the stool, and feeling extraordinarily drained or stressed.
These warning indicators normally start within the 24 to 48 hours after the fever goes away, so households mustn’t assume the sickness is over when the fever breaks. Anybody with warning indicators ought to get emergency care.
Infants, pregnant folks, adults 65 and older, and folks with sure medical circumstances face the next danger of problems, based on the CDC. A second dengue an infection with a special kind additionally carries the next danger of extreme sickness. There is no such thing as a particular drugs to deal with dengue, so early medical care and shut monitoring matter.
Dad and mom ought to inform a clinician about any fever in a toddler who lives in an affected county or lately traveled to an space with dengue. Testing confirms circumstances and helps well being departments goal mosquito management.
State Surgeon Basic Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo urged residents forward of Labor Day weekend to take easy precautions. “Use insect repellent, cowl up when potential, and take away standing water round your own home,” he stated in a Florida Division of Well being assertion.
The Outbreak’s Week-by-Week Timeline
Week 39 (Sept. 27 to Oct. 3): The state reported 44 new native circumstances, elevating the 2026 complete to 296. Broward turned the eighth county with native unfold, and 4 counties have been added to the advisory record.
Week 38 (Sept. 20 to Sept. 26): The state reported 62 new native circumstances for a complete of 252, with Polk because the seventh affected county.
September: The Florida Division of Well being confirmed dengue as the reason for demise of an 80-year-old Tampa girl.
July: Sickness onset dates within the state report present native transmission was underway, with 21 circumstances starting that month.
It isn’t but clear whether or not cooler climate will sluggish mosquito exercise quickly sufficient to finish the season’s unfold, or whether or not extra counties will report native circumstances. Late reporting may also add circumstances to previous weeks. For now, probably the most helpful steps for Florida households are emptying standing water, utilizing repellent and searching for care shortly for fever or warning indicators.
Key Questions Answered
What number of native dengue circumstances has Florida reported in 2026? Florida has reported 296 regionally acquired dengue circumstances this 12 months, with knowledge via Oct. 3, based on the Florida Division of Well being.
What’s new within the newest report? The state added 44 native circumstances in a single week, Broward turned the eighth county with native unfold, and 4 counties have been added to the mosquito-borne sickness advisory record.
What does regionally acquired dengue imply? It means the particular person was contaminated by a mosquito in Florida slightly than whereas touring.
Which county has probably the most circumstances? Hillsborough County has 259 of the 296 native circumstances, making Tampa Bay the middle of the outbreak.
What are the warning indicators of extreme dengue? The CDC lists stomach ache or tenderness, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nostril or gums, blood in vomit or stool, and excessive tiredness or restlessness. These indicators want emergency care.
Who’s at greater danger? Infants, pregnant folks, adults 65 and older, folks with sure medical circumstances and folks contaminated a second time with a special dengue kind face greater danger of extreme sickness.
How can households shield themselves? Use insect repellent, cowl up when potential and take away standing water across the dwelling the place mosquitoes breed.
Revealed by Medicaldaily.com
