Florida declares dengue emergency

Hillsborough County in Florida, which includes Tampa, declared a state of emergency this week linked to a growing number of dengue cases. Around four hundred eighty five cases have been reported statewide so far this year.

One death reported in outbreak

One person in Florida has died in the dengue outbreak so far this year, according to the state's department of health. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause serious flu-like illness.

Local spread marks a shift

This outbreak is different because it involves the most locally acquired cases Florida has seen, says Michael Johansson, an epidemiologist at Northeastern University. Usually dengue cases in Florida come from travelers returning from infected areas.

“This is the most locally acquired cases that we've seen in the state.”

What dengue is and how it spreads

Dengue is caused by viruses carried by mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti. Symptoms occur five to seven days after being bitten and can include painful body aches and fever lasting up to ten days. Up to four hundred million people worldwide are affected annually.

Second infection is more dangerous

One distinctive feature of dengue is that a second infection is likely to be much worse than the first. A second infection can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can involve bleeding and a drop in blood pressure, and is sometimes fatal.

Vaccine complications and availability

The danger of second infections complicated dengue vaccination efforts. In two thousand seventeen, Sanofi Pasteur alerted the Philippines that serious infections might occur in vaccinated people. No dengue vaccine is currently available in the U.S. after Dengvaxia was discontinued in two thousand twenty five due to low demand.

How to protect yourself from dengue

There is no cure for dengue; only symptom treatments exist. Avoid mosquito bites by keeping windows closed or using screens, covering skin with clothing, and using mosquito repellent. Remove containers that collect water, as these mosquitoes breed in small amounts of rainwater.

“These mosquitoes in particular, they can breed in a plastic bag that's collected a little bit of rainwater.”