Hillsborough and Pinellas report 55 new dengue cases as state total reaches 485

Florida recorded 485 locally acquired cases of dengue fever this year, according to a state health report released Thursday. The weekly data covers the period from October 18 to 24 and indicates that activity in the Tampa Bay area remains elevated without a sharp increase in transmission.

Hillsborough County accounted for 39 of the 60 new state cases reported during that week, bringing its annual total to 385. Pinellas County added 16 cases, raising its total to 67. In the previous week, Hillsborough reported 36 new infections and Pinellas reported 14. The combined total of 55 new cases in these two counties represents the largest share of the state's weekly increase.

Hillsborough County extended its state of emergency declaration until November 5. This one-week declaration grants the county administrator and emergency managers authority to take specific actions to protect community health and safety. It also establishes a financial path for the reimbursement of certain expenses related to the response.

Mosquito management crews in Hillsborough have intensified air and ground insecticide spraying. Surveillance data shows the virus is present in local mosquito populations. Crews are also conducting neighborhood inspections to identify standing water, which serves as a breeding site for Aedes mosquitoes, the species responsible for transmitting the disease. Staff are educating residents on prevention methods to reduce bite risk.

Other counties in the state also reported activity. Manatee County recorded its second case of the year. Pasco County has four cases and Polk County has one, with no changes from the previous week. Seminole County reported its first two cases of the year. New infections were also identified in Orange and Citrus counties. The disease has now been confirmed in 12 Florida counties.

Sarasota County remains free of locally acquired dengue cases, although a 63-year-old woman from North Port was hospitalized for the disease. Records show her infection was reported twice to the health department. The woman attended an event in Tampa the week before symptoms appeared but did not recall a specific mosquito bite. Health officials note that the state database likely reflects an undercount because many infected individuals do not display symptoms or seek testing.

The current outbreak is the largest in the United States in decades. Florida reported 199 cases in 2023 and 62 cases last year. An 80-year-old Tampa woman died this summer from dengue infection complicated by septic shock and multiorgan failure. Health officials advise residents to use repellent and wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors. As of October 24, mosquito-borne illness alerts are active in Alachua, Citrus, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pasco, and Pinellas counties.