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

As dengue spreads further outside its normal tropical zones, doctors and patients need to know what to watch for.

By: Andrés Henao, University of Colorado Anschutz, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 15, 2026

Words: 1,146

Last Updated: 4 weeks ago

By Andrés Henao, University of Colorado Anschutz

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 …

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