Story perspectives

Florida confirms first U.S. dengue death in nearly century

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 6:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Florida reports dengue death

Florida Department of Health confirmed the death of an 80-year-old Hillsborough County woman from dengue fever.
The September 4 death is the first U.S. dengue fatality in nearly a century.
Florida reported 332 dengue cases this year, the most among U.S. states.
State data show 152 locally acquired infections, 134 of them in Hillsborough County.
Most local cases (135 of 137) are DENV-2, centered in the Tampa Bay area.

Summary

Mosquito Control raises alert

Orange County Mosquito Control elevated the mosquito-borne illness advisory to an “alert,” first since 2011.
Director Steve Harrison warned that dengue, though rare in Central Florida, could spread.
Crews are spraying an EPA-approved synthetic pyrethroid derived from chrysanthemum, deemed safe for humans.
Sentinel chickens detect virus presence without becoming infected.
Weekly trap counts rose from 13,000 to 23,000, indicating heightened mosquito activity.

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Florida reports dengue death

Florida Department of Health confirmed the death of an 80-year-old Hillsborough County woman from dengue fever.
The September 4 death is the first U.S. dengue fatality in nearly a century.
Florida reported 332 dengue cases this year, the most among U.S. states.
State data show 152 locally acquired infections, 134 of them in Hillsborough County.
Most local cases (135 of 137) are DENV-2, centered in the Tampa Bay area.

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