Florida Faces Largest Dengue Fever Outbreak in Decades

Florida is currently experiencing its most significant outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever in over 80 years, according to expert assessments and state health department data.

Last week, the Florida Department of Health reported an additional 72 locally acquired cases, bringing the total for this year to 368. Federal health officials have indicated that this tally surpasses any other dengue outbreak in the United States since 1945, based on available state data. The previous largest outbreak on record occurred in Hawaii, with 264 locally acquired cases reported over a six-month period in 2015-2016.

Dengue fever, sometimes referred to as 'breakbone fever,' typically causes a sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and deep aches in muscles, joints, and bones.

While the U.S. typically records dengue cases linked to international travel, the number of locally acquired infections has been increasing in recent years. Nationally, 995 dengue fever cases have been recorded this year, including 626 travel-associated infections and 369 locally acquired cases. The latter figure includes the Florida outbreak and one case in Virginia.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this year highlighted a substantial rise in dengue fever cases, with a 359 percent increase in the average annual number of cases in 2024 compared to the 2010-2023 average.

Florida has seen a total of 656 dengue fever cases this year, with 288 of those being travel-associated.

Within Florida, Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, has become the epicenter of the locally acquired cases, reporting 310 infections. Pinellas County, also in the Tampa metropolitan area, has recorded 37 cases. Other affected counties include Miami-Dade with nine cases, Orange County with five, and Pasco County with four. Polk, Palm Beach, and Broward counties have each reported one case.

The virus is believed to have entered Florida when an infected individual, returning from abroad, was bitten by a local mosquito, which then transmitted the virus to others.

Maurice Kurtz, a 73-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, described his experience with dengue fever as feeling like he had been "hit by a car." He reported a fever of 101°F and extreme fatigue, which significantly impacted his usual active lifestyle involving swimming, biking, and running. He also noted the appearance of small, itchy red spots on his legs prior to falling ill. After initial tests for flu and COVID-19 were negative, doctors eventually confirmed his dengue fever diagnosis following a blood test.

Dengue fever was largely eradicated in the U.S. in the 1970s through efforts to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for the virus. However, the mosquito has since resurged, leading to sporadic outbreaks, particularly in Florida.

While many dengue infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications such as internal bleeding, respiratory distress, heart failure, shock, and organ failure. Symptoms, when they appear about five to seven days after infection, can include fever above 100°F (38°C), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bone or muscle aches, and bleeding gums.

Individuals at higher risk include young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. There is no specific cure for dengue fever; treatment focuses on managing symptoms and complications through supportive care, including hydration and pain relief with medications like Tylenol. Severe cases may require hospitalization for intensive monitoring and treatment.

Prevention methods include using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed. The CDC also recommends using window screens and air conditioning to reduce mosquito exposure. A three-dose vaccine is available for children aged nine to 16 who have previously had dengue, reducing the risk of symptomatic infection by approximately 80 percent.