Cases Twice the Seasonal Average Across Four Counties
The Florida Department of Health has confirmed 23 locally acquired dengue fever cases since mid-July 2026, roughly double the average incidence for this time of year. Cases have been reported in Hillsborough (15), Miami-Dade (4), Pinellas (3), and Palm Beach (1) counties. A locally acquired case means the person was infected by a mosquito in Florida rather than while traveling abroad, indicating the virus is actively circulating in local mosquitoes. Locally acquired dengue had not been reported in Pinellas County since 2011.
Florida recorded 62 locally acquired dengue cases in all of 2025. The overall risk to travelers and residents remains low, but the concentration of cases in major travel hubs including Miami-Dade and the Tampa Bay area is worth noting, particularly for those spending time outdoors during peak summer mosquito season.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms typically appear within 14 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Watch for:
- Sudden high fever and severe headache
- Intense muscle and joint pain, sometimes called breakbone fever
- Rash in some cases
- Nausea or vomiting
Dengue is not contagious from person to person. There is no specific treatment; care is supportive. Severe dengue is rare but can occur, particularly with repeat infections from a different serotype.
How to protect yourself
- Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin on all exposed skin when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito hours. See our guide to choosing the right repellent for travel.
- Wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk when mosquito activity peaks.
- Eliminate standing water around your home or accommodation, including flower pots, gutters, bird baths, and discarded tires, where Aedes mosquitoes breed.
- Stay in accommodations with air conditioning or screened windows.
- There is no dengue vaccine currently approved for general travelers in the United States. Prevention depends entirely on avoiding mosquito bites.
- Traveling internationally after your Florida trip? Dengue is endemic across much of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. A pre-travel consultation can assess your full itinerary risk.
Questions or concerns?
Contact us at TravelBug Health. We are here to help you assess mosquito-borne illness risk for any destination on your itinerary.
Resources:
- Florida Department of Health Arbovirus Surveillance
- CDC Dengue Information
- CDC Travelers Health: Dengue
