As dengue continues to rise in Florida, some are worried about underreporting of cases
Florida is experiencing a significant rise in locally acquired dengue fever cases, prompting health officials to express concern over potential underreporting. Several counties have declared states of emergency to bolster mosquito control efforts as experts warn of the outbreak's unusual scale.
Why it matters
The surge in locally transmitted dengue in a non-endemic region highlights growing public health challenges related to climate and disease surveillance.
As cases of dengue fever continue to rise in Florida, public health specialists are worried the true number of infections may be greater.
For the week ending Sept. 19, at least 190 cases of locally acquired dengue have been confirmed in the state, an increase of 38 cases from the week before, according to data from the Florida Department of Health (DOH).
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, is reporting the highest number of cases at 170 followed by Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas counties, DOH data shows.
"There's evidence of local transmission of dengue in several counties in Florida," Natalie Dean, an associate professor of biostatistics and informatics at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, told ABC News. "Dengue is not endemic to the United States. That means that it doesn't typically cause local transmission."
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