You probably check for ticks after a hike or swat at a mosquito on the patio without a second thought. Most of us think of tropical fevers as something you catch on vacation, not at home. In parts of Florida this year, that line has started to blur.
Nearly 300 people in Florida have caught dengue locally, without leaving the state, in 2026, according to Medical Xpress, citing CDC figures. That is the largest locally acquired dengue outbreak in any mainland US state since at least the 1940s.
Most cases are concentrated in and around Tampa, in Hillsborough County, with Miami-Dade next. Several Tampa Bay counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas, have declared local emergencies, and officials have stepped up aerial mosquito control.
One elderly Tampa woman has died.
Also read: Millions pick diet soda to lose weight. A two-year trial checked if it works
Why dengue is turning up this far north
Dengue is a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, and until recently it was mainly a problem for travelers coming back from the tropics. The CDC reports more than 10.6 million cases across North and South America in 2024, a dramatic jump from the year before.
A warmer, wetter climate means more mosquitoes in more places, the agency says. That has pushed dengue into parts of Europe and the continental US that had largely been spared.
Dawn Wesson, a dengue expert at Tulane University, has said there is a good chance local outbreaks like Florida's are the new normal.
What dengue actually feels like
Only about one in four infected people develop symptoms. When they do, illness starts suddenly, usually 5 to 7 days after a mosquito bite. High fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and deep muscle and joint aches are typical, according to the CDC.
Also read: If you've had genetic cancer screening, newer tests may catch risks
That last symptom is why dengue has long been called breakbone fever. A faint rash and small amounts of bleeding from the gums or nose can also appear.
Most people recover within a week. But around one in 20 progress to severe dengue, which can cause plasma leakage, shock, severe bleeding, or organ damage.
Warning signs include abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, extreme tiredness, and restlessness. Anyone with those symptoms needs urgent medical care.
How to protect yourself in Florida
Dengue has no specific treatment, and no vaccine is available in the United States. Prevention means avoiding mosquito bites.
Also read: Scientists warn: Your vitamin D levels may already be dropping
The CDC advises wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants in affected areas, and using an EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin.
Aedes aegypti, the main dengue vector, bites throughout the day, not just at dawn or dusk, so cover up or use repellent whenever you are outdoors. At home or at your hotel, keep screens on windows and air conditioning on where possible.
Empty any standing water from items like pots, buckets, trays, and tires, which are breeding grounds for Aedes.
Travelers coming back from Florida or other dengue-affected regions should keep using repellent for three weeks after returning, the CDC notes, so they do not pass the virus to local mosquitoes if they were infected without knowing.
Also read: Better blood pressure treatment could prevent half a million heart deaths a year
Anyone with a fever or severe body aches within two weeks of a trip to an affected area should contact their doctor and mention the travel.
Also read: For adults over 70, only one type of exercise cuts fat without shrinking muscle
This article is made and published by Aksel Kryhlmand, who may have used AI in the preparation.