Dengue‑carrying mosquitoes expand their reach into new territories - including Florida

The Florida Department of Health confirmed on Sept. 18, 2026, that the death of an elderly woman on Sept. 4 was due to dengue fever. This is the first confirmed death in a larger dengue outbreak in Hillsborough County, which has seen 134 cases of the disease this summer. In August, the Hillsborough County Health Department issued a mosquito-borne illness alert due to reports of multiple locally acquired cases. This cluster of locally spread cases is a stark reminder that a disease which most Americans associate with faraway tropical vacations is increasingly being caught at home. Dengue is often called “breakbone fever,” and the nickname is earned. People who get sick typically develop a sudden high fever along with a pounding headache, pain behind the eyes and deep aches in the muscles, joints and bones.