Dengue fever triggers local state of emergency in three Florida counties: what we know

Dengue fever has prompted Florida's three local counties to declare a state of emergency on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The state of emergency has been declared in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in response to efforts to prevent the spread of dengue fever across the Tampa Bay areas.

The local state of emergency will remain in effect for a week unless withdrawn earlier by the county administrator only if the declaration is deemed unnecessary.

The emergency declaration enables the county administrator and emergency management director to forgo certain routine procedures and take immediate steps to ensure public safety and welfare of the county residents.

The Florida Health Department has reported that during the last week, two cases of dengue fever were reported in Pasco County, while neighbouring Hillsborough County saw 134 cases being reported.

As local and state health officials are scrambling to control the spread of the dengue virus to nearby Tampa Bay areas, county officials have increased their mosquito surveillance and control efforts, officials said.

Meanwhile, the mosquito control officials have been advising the public to take multiple steps to fight the spread of dengue fever.

Drainage of standing water around home or business, while making sure your skin doesn't get exposed and using a US EPA-registered mosquito repellent.

Dengue virus spreads through infected mosquitoes, so it’s important to keep sites where mosquitoes breed clear so eggs cannot be laid.