# Dengue fever outbreak in Florida

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dengue-fever-outbreak-in-florida
> Updated: 2026-09-21T12:21:23.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 2.

Florida is experiencing a significant surge in locally acquired dengue fever cases, a mosquito-borne illness often referred to as “breakbone fever” due to the intense muscle and joint pain it causes.

Initial reports indicated a rise in transmission, particularly within the Tampa Bay region. In late August, Hillsborough County recorded 59 of the state’s 73 reported cases, with health officials issuing alerts for several counties including Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas. Testing confirmed the presence of the DENV-2 virus in mosquito pools in Hillsborough County.

As the outbreak progressed, the scale of the situation increased, with Hillsborough County reporting over 150 locally acquired cases. Health officials confirmed the first death linked to the outbreak, involving an elderly woman who died on September 4. Experts have noted that the expanding geographic reach of the Aedes aegypti mosquito may be contributing to these local surges.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Florida reports first dengue fever death amid rising local cases

Florida has reported its first dengue fever death of the year in Hillsborough County amid a surge of locally acquired cases exceeding 150 infections across several counties.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/florida-confirms-dengue-death-amid-major-local-outbreak

### 2026-09-09: Florida reports rise in locally acquired dengue fever cases

Florida reports a surge in locally acquired dengue fever, with 73 cases identified so far in 2024. The Tampa Bay area, particularly Hillsborough County, is the current epicenter of the outbreak.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/florida-reports-rise-in-locally-acquired-dengue-fever-cases-1

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Cite as: Dengue fever outbreak in Florida. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dengue-fever-outbreak-in-florida