Florida dengue outbreak grows; Hillsborough County declares emergency
In short
Florida is dealing with a dengue outbreak that health officials describe as the largest in the continental U.S. in decades, with reported cases also rising in other states. Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, declared a state of emergency this week over the growing number of cases, and one person in Florida has died this year, the state health department said. Outlets give differing Florida case totals: TIME reported about 485 cases for the year citing the CDC, The Hill reported 252, and Newsweek said the CDC's count rose from 392 at its previous update.
Why it matters
The outbreak has prompted emergency declarations in Florida counties and drawn attention from public health officials, and the CDC data cited by Newsweek show reported cases rising in at least 15 states. Because dengue spreads through Aedes mosquitoes that live in parts of the southern U.S., locally acquired infections can continue beyond travel-related cases. Coverage is concentrated on U.S. states, so the direct relevance to readers elsewhere is limited to the disease's wider presence in tropical regions.
Key facts
- Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, declared a state of emergency this week linked to a growing number of dengue cases. [ 1 ]
- TIME reported around 485 dengue cases in Florida this year, citing the CDC. [ 1 ]
- The Hill reported Florida totaled 252 cases this year, citing an update this week. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek reported Florida's case count rose from 392 in the CDC's previous update. [ 3 ]
- One person in Florida has died in the outbreak this year, the state's department of health told media outlets in September, according to TIME. [ 1 ]
- Reported cases have risen in at least 15 states, with Florida accounting for the largest share, according to the latest CDC data cited by Newsweek. [ 3 ]
- The outbreak has been concentrated in the Tampa Bay region and has resulted in emergency declarations in several counties. [ 3 ]
- Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti; most infections are mild and many people develop no symptoms. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Florida is experiencing a dengue outbreak with hundreds of reported cases this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The outbreak includes a significant number of locally acquired cases, meaning people were infected in the state rather than while traveling abroad. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Health officials describe the Florida outbreak as the largest in the continental United States in decades. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Emergency declarations have been made in Florida counties because of the outbreak. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The outbreak has been concentrated in the Tampa Bay region. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Dengue is transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Florida's total dengue case count for the year. The documents give different figures: TIME reported about 485 citing the CDC, The Hill reported 252, and Newsweek said the CDC count rose from 392 at the previous update.
- The death reported in Florida this year. Only TIME states it, attributing it to the state's department of health telling media outlets in September; no other document mentions a death.
- The scale of case increases in states outside Florida. Newsweek reports rises in at least 15 states but gives a Florida figure that is cut off in the text available.
- The exact dates of the county emergency declarations. TIME and Newsweek say they occurred this week or in several counties without giving dates.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct. 2: TIME reports that Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, declared a state of emergency this week and that about 485 dengue cases have been reported in Florida this year, according to the CDC. [ 1 ]
- Oct. 3: The Hill reports the Florida outbreak appears to be the largest in the continental U.S. in decades, totaling 252 reported cases this year according to an update this week. [ 2 ]
- Oct. 4: Newsweek reports that, per the latest CDC data, dengue cases have risen in at least 15 states since the agency's previous update, with Florida posting by far the largest increase. [ 3 ]