Hillsborough reports an 'unusual increase' in locally acquired dengue. How to protect yourself
By Meleah Lyden
September 4, 2026 at 4:11 PM EDT
The county reported 59 of the state's 73 cases this year as of the latest weekly update from Aug. 23-29. That 29 more than the previous update. There are three important steps for prevention.
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Hillsborough County is experiencing an "unusual increase" in locally acquired dengue fever cases, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Statewide, there have been 73 cases this year (all since July) – with 59 in Hillsborough.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said during a press conference Friday the department has seen an increase in locally acquired cases in other areas in the state, but that Hillsborough has been the "epicenter of it."
From Aug. 23-29, the most recent data posted, the state showed an increase of 29 cases in Hillsborough. There were 30 in the previous update from Aug. 16-22.
Three other cases were reported during the week: two in Pinellas County, which has five in 2026, and the first one this year in Pasco County.
State surveillance has detected four addition mosquito pools containing Aedes aegypti that tested positive for dengue in Hillsborough. They were collected Aug. 25-27. Aedes aegypti is the species capable of spreading dengue to people.
ALSO READ: Dengue cases double in Hillsborough as infected mosquito surveillance pools increase
The pools are groups of mosquitoes collected and tested together.
As of Aug. 29, Alachua, Duval, Leon, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Walton counties are under a mosquito-borne illness advisory. Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties are under a mosquito-borne illness alert.
Statewide, there were 27 new cases of travel-associated dengue during the reporting week, and 136 for the year.
Spray, cover and drain
Dengue presents as a flu-like illness. It's characterized by severe muscle aches, joint pain, fever and occasionally rashes. The fever is not contagious, and there's usually no respiratory complications. Symptoms usually start within 15 days of a mosquito bite.
"It's important for Floridians to know that there are actions that we can take to help reduce the propagation of these terrible, just annoying mosquitoes," Ladapo said.
https://x.com/HealthyFla/status/2095876959884701766
Health officials point to three steps: spray, cover and drain.
The health department recommends using a federally registered insect repellent and following the directions on the label. Look for repellent with these active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outside is also recommended.
Health officials say it is important for residents walk around their homes remove any standing water. The mosquitoes can breed in small amounts of water — even a bottle cap full of water can be enough.
It is also suggested that residents places screens on windows and doors, and use air conditioning, if possible.
Partnering with mosquito control and others
The health department is working with local partners to monitor activity in Hillsborough and support mosquito control efforts.
The administrator and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough, Carla Fry, said employees have been doing outreach efforts and vistited about 4,000 residents and 400 businesses to educate them about the issue. They've also taken repellent, and discussed drain and cover methods.
"Our Environmental Public Health team is going to the tire shops," Fry explained. "They're working around standing water, right? So we had to make sure that they're protected themselves and also providing them with little pieces of material called dunks that we can throw into that water and kill the mosquitoes. So we're spreading all that stuff around the neighborhoods."
The agency also has a partnership with local mosquito management.
"They are innovative. They're creative and they're quick," Fry said. "So what they're doing right now is they're sharing real-time data and information from the time we identify a case and a location." This allows mosquito control teams to treat as soon as possible.
Other partners include the University of South Florida, which provides subject matter expertise, and Tampa General Hospital.
"They're also catching those cases that might otherwise go undetected. So when they call us, our team jumps into surveillance mode and into investigation mode. They very quickly find out where has that person been, where do they work, where have they contracted this illness," Fry said.
WUSF previously reported that Pinellas' mosquito control was expanding its response by focusing ground inspections and dawn fogging in the Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg areas.
Learn more about mosquito bite prevention on the Florida Department of Health's website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxzWtO0JUM&source_ve_path=MjE0Mjgz&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.floridahealth.gov%2F
Hillsborough County is experiencing an "unusual increase" in locally acquired dengue fever cases, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Statewide, there have been 73 cases this year (all since July) – with 59 in Hillsborough.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said during a press conference Friday the department has seen an increase in locally acquired cases in other areas in the state, but that Hillsborough has been the "epicenter of it."
From Aug. 23-29, the most recent data posted, the state showed an increase of 29 cases in Hillsborough. There were 30 in the previous update from Aug. 16-22.
Three other cases were reported during the week: two in Pinellas County, which has five in 2026, and the first one this year in Pasco County.
State surveillance has detected four addition mosquito pools containing Aedes aegypti that tested positive for dengue in Hillsborough. They were collected Aug. 25-27. Aedes aegypti is the species capable of spreading dengue to people.
ALSO READ: Dengue cases double in Hillsborough as infected mosquito surveillance pools increase
The pools are groups of mosquitoes collected and tested together.
As of Aug. 29, Alachua, Duval, Leon, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Walton counties are under a mosquito-borne illness advisory. Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties are under a mosquito-borne illness alert.
Statewide, there were 27 new cases of travel-associated dengue during the reporting week, and 136 for the year.
Spray, cover and drain
Dengue presents as a flu-like illness. It's characterized by severe muscle aches, joint pain, fever and occasionally rashes. The fever is not contagious, and there's usually no respiratory complications. Symptoms usually start within 15 days of a mosquito bite.
"It's important for Floridians to know that there are actions that we can take to help reduce the propagation of these terrible, just annoying mosquitoes," Ladapo said.
https://x.com/HealthyFla/status/2095876959884701766
Health officials point to three steps: spray, cover and drain.
The health department recommends using a federally registered insect repellent and following the directions on the label. Look for repellent with these active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outside is also recommended.
Health officials say it is important for residents walk around their homes remove any standing water. The mosquitoes can breed in small amounts of water — even a bottle cap full of water can be enough.
It is also suggested that residents places screens on windows and doors, and use air conditioning, if possible.
Partnering with mosquito control and others
The health department is working with local partners to monitor activity in Hillsborough and support mosquito control efforts.
The administrator and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough, Carla Fry, said employees have been doing outreach efforts and vistited about 4,000 residents and 400 businesses to educate them about the issue. They've also taken repellent, and discussed drain and cover methods.
"Our Environmental Public Health team is going to the tire shops," Fry explained. "They're working around standing water, right? So we had to make sure that they're protected themselves and also providing them with little pieces of material called dunks that we can throw into that water and kill the mosquitoes. So we're spreading all that stuff around the neighborhoods."
The agency also has a partnership with local mosquito management.
"They are innovative. They're creative and they're quick," Fry said. "So what they're doing right now is they're sharing real-time data and information from the time we identify a case and a location." This allows mosquito control teams to treat as soon as possible.
Other partners include the University of South Florida, which provides subject matter expertise, and Tampa General Hospital.
"They're also catching those cases that might otherwise go undetected. So when they call us, our team jumps into surveillance mode and into investigation mode. They very quickly find out where has that person been, where do they work, where have they contracted this illness," Fry said.
WUSF previously reported that Pinellas' mosquito control was expanding its response by focusing ground inspections and dawn fogging in the Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg areas.
Learn more about mosquito bite prevention on the Florida Department of Health's website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxzWtO0JUM&source_ve_path=MjE0Mjgz&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.floridahealth.gov%2F