Map Shows Dengue Fever Cases in Each State as Florida Records First 2026 Death - Newsweek
Florida has reported its first dengue fever death of 2026 as the mosquito-borne disease spreads across parts of the United States, with nearly 2,000 cases recorded nationwide this year.
An 80-year-old woman from Hillsborough County died on September 4 from complications including septic shock and multiple organ failure after contracting the virus, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times.
The death comes amid one of Florida's most significant dengue outbreaks in recent years and as health officials monitor rising case numbers in several U.S. jurisdictions.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that usually causes flu-like symptoms including fever, headache and severe joint pain.
It is not generally fatal, but in rare cases can progress to life-threatening complications such as shock, internal bleeding and organ failure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of widespread dengue transmission in the continental United States remains low, and most cases are as a result of people coming back from other countries with higher levels of dengue.
Of the 1,927 dengue cases reported in U.S. states and territories this year, Puerto Rico has recorded 907 and American Samoa 437, according to CDC data.
Florida's 332 reported cases are the highest among U.S. states. State health officials have also reported more than 150 locally acquired infections this year, meaning residents were infected within Florida rather than during travel abroad.
Dengue symptoms usually begin two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and commonly include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting and rash, according to the CDC.
Around one in four people infected with dengue will become sick, and most will recover within a week.
Signs of severe dengue fever include severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from nose or gums, blood in vomit or stool and extreme fatigue.
The virus is spread by warm-weather mosquito species common in Florida, according to the CDC.
Recent outbreaks in Florida have been largely linked to recent warm weather. Health officials say warm temperatures and rainfall can increase mosquito populations and create conditions that allow outbreaks to occur.
“We are seeing warmer temperatures and lots of rain. This gives these mosquitoes plenty of places to breed. They don't need a puddle or a pond. All they need is water sitting in a flowerpot, bucket, tire, or other small container to breed,” Kristi Miley, a researcher at the USF College of Public Health’s Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, said in an article for USF Health.
Hillsborough County authorities have increased mosquito-control efforts during the outbreak, including spraying and monitoring mosquito populations.
Officials have said recent surveillance suggests transmission may be slowing, although residents are still being urged to take precautions against mosquito bites.
