Tampa woman is first dengue fever death recorded in Florida - Tampa Bay Times

The Florida Department of Health confirmed Friday that a Hillsborough County woman is the first known person to die as a result of dengue fever in the state this year. Gay Small died at Tampa General Hospital on Sept. 4, the result of a mosquito bite she got near her home on Bayshore Boulevard. The Tampa Bay Times reported her death about 10 days ago, before health officials confirmed dengue was the cause. Her death certificate includes “dengue infection” along with “septic shock” and “multi-organ failure.” “So I guess that means the state agrees she died of dengue,” said her daughter, Anna Small, 55, on Thursday.Small’s death marks Tampa Bay’s first fatality from the tropical disease in almost a century, according to Kristi Miley, who teaches at USF’s College of Public Health.Historically, most dengue cases were contracted overseas and brought back to Florida.