Florida’s dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental U.S. in decades

Strobe, M. 5 Oct. 2026. Los Angeles Times.

Florida has reported more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, making the outbreak the largest in a continental U.S. state in decades. The outbreak in the Tampa area has surpassed Florida’s previous record and is nearing the 264 cases reported during Hawaii’s 2015-16 outbreak. Local officials have declared emergencies and are spraying to reduce mosquitoes.

FYI. This outbreak of locally transmitted DENV cases shows the importance of MVCAC agencies responding to imported cases and the the risk of introducing DENV into areas supporting populations of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. As passive surveillance presently focuses on the detection and reporting of human cases, there is a real risk of virus introduction via cases not reported because of mild disease, failed diagnosis or immigration status.