Cases Have Nearly Doubled Since September and the Outbreak Is Spreading
What started as a cluster in the Tampa Bay area has grown into Florida’s largest dengue outbreak in decades. As of October 22, 2026, Florida has reported 721 total dengue cases this year, up from 392 in September alone, with 425 locally acquired cases now confirmed across 11 counties. Three counties have declared states of emergency. One death has been confirmed. The previous annual high for locally acquired dengue in Florida was 199 cases in 2023. This year’s count has more than doubled that.
Hillsborough County remains the epicenter, but the virus is no longer contained to the Tampa Bay region. Cases have now been confirmed in Orange, Seminole, Manatee, Citrus, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, meaning dengue-carrying mosquitoes are actively transmitting from Tampa to Orlando and down through South Florida.
Nationally, the CDC reports 2,470 dengue cases in 2026, concentrated in Puerto Rico, Florida, and American Samoa.
What changed and why it matters
Dengue has circulated in Florida at low levels for years. This year is different in scale. Rising temperatures and extended rain seasons are expanding the range and activity window of Aedes aegypti, the primary mosquito vector. The University of Florida’s Ira Longini, who studies infectious disease spread, told the Washington Post plainly: “It was just a matter of time.” He also warned that a seasonal break may be short-lived if temperatures rise again.
About one in four people infected with dengue develop symptoms. Of those, roughly 5% progress to severe dengue, which can involve hemorrhage, organ failure, and shock.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms typically begin 3 to 14 days after a mosquito bite. Watch for:
- Sudden high fever and severe headache
- Intense muscle and joint pain, sometimes called breakbone fever
- Rash, nausea, or vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Care is supportive. If symptoms develop, call your doctor before going in.
How to protect yourself
- Use EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET or picaridin every time you are outdoors in Florida, not just at dawn and dusk. See our guide to choosing the right repellent
- Eliminate standing water around your home or accommodation. Even a bottle cap holds enough water for mosquito breeding
- Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, particularly in affected counties
- There is no dengue vaccine currently approved for general travelers in the United States. Your only protection is avoiding bites
- Traveling internationally after Florida? Dengue is endemic across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. A pre-travel consultation covers your full itinerary risk
Questions or concerns?
Contact us at TravelBug Health. We are here to help you assess mosquito-borne illness risk for Florida and any international destination on your itinerary.
Resources:
- Florida Department of Health Arbovirus Surveillance
- CDC Dengue Information
- CDC Travelers Health: Dengue
