Florida health officials are cautioning residents about a recent uptick in dengue fever cases, which have continued to emerge as we enter the new year.
Pool and spa service professionals — especially those who are located in the Tampa Bay area — are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
As of January 2, there were 10 confirmed cases of locally acquired dengue fever in the Moon Lake area of New Port Richey and two others outside of that area.
And in December, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County informed residents of six confirmed human cases of locally acquired dengue fever.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites a total of 71 cases of locally acquired dengue in the state of Florida in 2024, and a total of both locally acquired and travel-associated dengue at 898, both of which are the highest number of cases for any state.
“The health department … the CDC … they’re not at a point where they’re calling dengue endemic in Florida,” said Adriane Rogers, executive director of Pasco County Mosquito Control. “I disagree with that. I think we really need to start calling dengue established in the state of Florida. In the past few years, we’ve seen what I don’t think are recent introductions. I think it’s been here for a little bit of time and it’s just gone undiagnosed and unnoticed.”
Dengue viruses are spread by the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. Photo: CDC Dengue
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But it’s getting noticed now, as locally acquired dengue cases continue to pop up, especially where there is still standing water from Hurricane Milton.
Dengue is a disease generally found in tropical areas like the Caribbean, but flooding, droughts, and rising temperatures are helping mosquito-borne illnesses spread to places they haven’t been before, according to a regional director for the World Health Organization.
“The geographical area susceptible to the transmission of dengue is expanding [to] countries that are not usually affected, which includes the United States, where most cases have been imported by travelers,” said Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan America Health Organization. “However, there has been limited local transmission in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, and California.
The rise in cases is directly associated with climate events such as droughts, floods, and hotter climates that favor the proliferation of mosquito breeding grounds.”
According to Rogers, part of what makes it difficult to control the spread is that a person’s first time encounter with dengue tends to be mild if it is noticed at all. “The thing with dengue is that it has an 80-percent asymptomatic rate,” Rogers said. “So someone could be walking around, they do not know they have it, but they could still be infectious. So if a mosquito were to bite them, it would contract dengue, and that’s how it would pass it along.”
But that tends to change for people who encounter dengue a second time. Then, it can worsen into severe dengue — a life-threatening disease.
“I want to sound the alarm, so to speak,” Rogers said.
According to WHO, most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better within two weeks. If symptoms do occur, they include:
• High fever (104°F); Severe headache; Pain behind the eyes; Muscle and joint pains; Nausea; Vomiting; Swollen glands; Rash.
Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue. Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away: Symptoms include severe abdominal pain.; Persistent vomiting; Rapid breathing; Bleeding gums or nose; Fatigue; Restlessness; Blood in vomit or stool; Being very thirsty; Pale and cold skin; Feeling weak. WHO cautions people with severe symptoms get care right away.
With dengue in active transmission in parts of Florida, health officials with the CDC are advising those who spend a lot of time outdoors to take the following measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Use EPA- registered insect repellents (and reapply as directed) containing one of the following active ingredients, which are safe and effective even for breast-feeding or pregnant women:
• DEET; Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the U.S.); IR3535; Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) — A plant-derived ingredient. (Not for children under 3); Paramenthane diol (PMD). (Not for children under 3); 2-undecanone — A plant-derived ingredient.
Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants that is treated with permethrin.(Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes).
Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings. Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
Check for water-holding containers both indoors and outdoors.
Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers.
