The Sunshine State is in the middle of a dengue outbreak.
Florida health officials recently reported more than 250 locally acquired cases of dengue fever in 2026, most of them in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located. According to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, the outbreak “appears to be the largest in several decades in the continental United States.”
The outbreak sparked a local state of emergency in Hillsborough County and its neighbors, with workers applying insecticide “day and night” to combat mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
If you’re heading to Florida soon or planning a trip, here’s what you should consider.
What is dengue?
Dengue fever, pronounced DEHN-gay and nicknamed “broken fever” because of the excruciating pain it can cause, is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical climates.
Most infected people have mild to no symptoms and recover on their own within a week or two, although they may feel tired for several weeks afterward. However, some patients develop severe dengue, which can be life-threatening and require hospitalization. People who have had dengue fever before are at higher risk of getting severe dengue fever.
There is currently no cure for dengue; patients are treated with pain management.
Dengue fever has spread rapidly in recent decades, in part because of climate change: Rising temperatures extend the mosquito breeding season and accelerate the growth of mosquito larvae. As a result, dengue fever is spreading to new regions once too cold for mosquitoes, including parts of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
According to the WHO, 2024 was a record year for dengue, with more than 14.6 million cases reported and more than 12,000 deaths worldwide.
How to protect yourself
Some areas of Florida have historically been at risk for dengue fever, but the current outbreak has increased your chances of catching the virus, especially if you’re heading to the Tampa area.
This doesn’t mean you should cancel your plans, but you should be very careful.
There is no widely available vaccine against dengue. Since the virus is spread primarily by mosquitoes, it’s best to avoid bites by wearing protective clothing and insecticide when outdoors.
I personally recommend Permethrin, which you can apply to your clothes before traveling. Once dried, this waterproof repellent has no odor or greasy feel and will stay put through multiple washes. In mosquito-prone areas, I wear pants and long sleeves treated with Permethrin, then apply insect repellent to all exposed areas.
What to do if you get sick
When visiting Florida, keep an eye out for symptoms of dengue fever, including:
- high fever
- severe headache or pain behind the eyes
- muscle and joint pain
- nausea or vomiting
- swollen glands
- rash
If you have these symptoms, chances are they can be self-managed and will go away within one to two weeks.
However, if you develop symptoms of severe dengue fever – which often appear after the fever has gone – you should seek medical attention immediately:
- severe abdominal pain
- persistent vomiting
- rapid breathing
- bleeding gums or nose
- fatigue
- hustle
- blood in vomit or stool
- extreme thirst
- cold, pale skin
- feel weak
Dengue fever is not spread from person to person, so you don’t have to worry about passing the virus on to your traveling companions.
Conclusion
Florida attracts countless tourists to its beaches, theme parks and natural wonders like the Everglades. But it’s also home to pesky, disease-carrying mosquitoes, active year-round due to the state’s warm climate.
The current dengue outbreak shouldn’t stop you from traveling this winter, but you should take appropriate precautions. Pack the right clothing and bug spray to protect yourself from mosquitoes, and know the symptoms of dengue in the unlikely event you need medical attention.
This will allow you to travel safely and stress-free.
Gn Health
