PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The reported number of locally acquired dengue fever cases is on the rise in Florida, according to health officials. So far, at least 37 cases across seven counties have been recorded in the state this year.
The Florida Department of Health has warned residents to try to avoid mosquitoes as the mosquito-borne disease can be painful and debilitating with symptoms of fever, headache, eye pain, muscle, joint pain and bleeding.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue; symptoms are usually treated with pain medicine, the World Health Organization said.
Officials have been tracking the uptick of cases in Florida, which, according to reports, currently has the most in the U.S. There have been between 522 to 539 cases of dengue fever reported in the state, the large majority in people with a travel history to a dengue-endemic area within two weeks of showing symptoms, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Florida Health.
According to the latest date from the health department, the highest number of cases have been reported in Miami-Dade County (244 cases), Broward County (69 cases), Hillsborough County (38 cases), Orange County (33 cases) and Palm Beach County (33 cases).
Dengue fever is acquired through a mosquito bite. In Florida, over three dozen cases have been reported to have occurred from a mosquito bite in the state. See a breakdown of the number of cases of locally acquired dengue fever reported in each county so far in 2024, below:
- Hillsborough: 3
- Pasco: 3
- Manatee: 1
- Miami-Dade: 24
- Monroe: 3
- Orange: 2
- Palm Beach: 1
To avoid dengue and help control the mosquito population in general, residents should drain water in areas like kiddie pools or old tires, cover with clothing and use insect repellents.
Here are some tips Floridians can follow to protect themselves from illnesses, which mosquito control calls the three D's of protection:
- Drain – Following a rain or storm, each household and property becomes a resort for mosquitoes looking for a place to lay eggs. Mosquitoes only need a teaspoon of water to develop, so emptying even small accumulations of water outside can make a difference.
- Dress – Wear long sleeves and long pants that are light-colored and loose-fitting. These clothing choices are a deterrent to mosquitoes.
- Defend – Mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin and IR3535 are powerful shields against mosquitoes. If a more natural product is preferred, repellents containing Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are great options.
