Posted by Chinenye on Tue 08th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
Health officials in Florida are stepping up mosquito control as dengue cases continue to emerge in several areas.
(Mosquito Bites. Photo by New York Post)
Mosquito control teams in Florida are stepping up efforts to fight dengue fever as health officials expect more cases in the coming weeks.
As of September 1, Florida had recorded 33 locally acquired dengue cases in Tampa Bay and 41 statewide.
Locally acquired means people caught the illness at home, not while traveling.
Cases are expected to keep rising in the next few weeks.
Most cases are in Hillsborough County with 30 confirmed infections, followed by seven in Miami-Dade, three in Pinellas and one in Palm Beach County.
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts.
Dengue is spread by mosquitoes and causes fever, severe body aches, nausea, rash and sometimes serious complications.
The virus is common in tropical areas like Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.
It rarely occurs in the mainland US, but Florida, California and Texas have seen local transmission.
Last year was a record year with 3,798 cases reported across the country, up 359 percent from the average between 2010 and 2023.
Mosquito crews are spraying areas with dengue activity and checking properties for breeding sites.
Officials are asking residents to get rid of standing water around their homes since the dengue mosquito lays eggs in buckets, plant pots, tires and other containers that hold water.
Health authorities recommend wearing long sleeves, light colours and closed shoes outside.
Use insect repellent with DEET or picaridin.
Check your yard regularly and dump any standing water.
Most people infected with dengue have no symptoms or recover within a week or two.
But some develop severe dengue, which can be life-threatening.
Warning signs include severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, unusual bleeding, trouble breathing and extreme tiredness.
Anyone with these signs should get medical help right away.