Florida reports rise in locally acquired dengue fever cases

Florida health officials have confirmed a rise in locally acquired dengue fever cases, with 23 such infections reported in the state so far this year. A recent surge in reporting brought the weekly count to 16 cases, a jump that reflects data catching up rather than a single week of simultaneous illness.

Transmission is heavily concentrated in the Tampa Bay area, specifically Hillsborough County, which accounts for 15 of the 23 local cases. Most of these infections have been identified as the DENV-2 serotype, suggesting a sustained local transmission chain rather than separate instances of travelers bringing the virus into the state.

Health alerts have been issued for Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas counties, while Alachua, Leon, Palm Beach, and Pasco counties are under advisory. While most dengue cases in the United States are travel-related, Florida has seen significant local transmission, with over 600 local cases recorded since 2010. The virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.