Florida battles largest dengue outbreak in decades
Florida is battling its largest dengue outbreak in decades, with more than 290 locally acquired cases reported. Former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield details transmission risks and essential prevention measures. Meanwhile, Hillsborough County mosquito control teams are deploying aerial sprays to target mosquitoes carrying the virus.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
You probably don’t think much about mosquitoes in November. In much of the country, cooler weather has caused these pesky little leeches to go into hiding. But in Florida, mosquitoes continue to cause serious problems. The state is facing its largest dengue outbreak in decades, and hundreds of people have caught the virus without leaving the state.
Now, researchers at the University of South Florida have developed an AI mosquito trap that could help health officials detect dangerous mosquito species much more quickly. It can identify mosquito species with over 98% accuracy in laboratory tests. And as dengue fever continues to spread in Florida, the timing couldn’t be more important.
Did you miss CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the replay and discover 5 ways to travel smarter and save money.
Our free CyberGuy LIVE course, 5 Ways to Travel Smarter and Save Money, has ended, but you can still watch the full replay. Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson walks you through five practical ways to protect your phone and personal information, avoid common travel scams, find better deals, save money on bookings, and use technology to make your travels easier and less stressful. No technical experience is necessary.
Watch the free replay + downloadable checklist now at CyberGuyLive.com.
TROPICAL DISEASE SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES CLAIMS FIRST DEATH IN SOUTHERN US STATE
The Digitomy AI Mosquito Trap uses built-in cameras and artificial intelligence to identify mosquito species that can spread diseases like dengue. (University of South Florida)
Why Florida’s dengue outbreak is now making headlines
If you thought mosquito season ended with summer, Florida has another story to tell. According to the latest available weekly surveillance report from the Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough County recorded 407 locally acquired dengue cases in 2026, the largest outbreak ever recorded in the county. Across Florida, health officials reported 524 locally acquired cases through October 31. This means people contracted the virus from mosquitoes in the region rather than by traveling abroad.
The Tampa area was particularly hard hit. In October, the Florida Department of Health confirmed that Hillsborough County was still responding to an ongoing dengue outbreak. Dengue can cause high fever, severe headache and severe muscle pain. In severe cases, this can lead to life-threatening complications. Health officials continue to encourage residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.
On November 13, Hillsborough County announced that it had extended its local state of emergency until November 19, with mosquito control teams increasing air and ground treatments to help contain the outbreak. County officials say mosquito monitoring continues to detect dengue virus activity in area neighborhoods.
And here’s why we’re talking about it in November. Although mosquitoes have largely disappeared from colder parts of the country, they can remain active in warmer states. The outbreak in Florida shows that the threat doesn’t go away just because summer is over. At the same time, a new generation of technologies could give communities a better way to respond before mosquito populations spiral out of control.
How the new AI mosquito trap works
The technology comes from Digitomy, a startup founded by researchers at the University of South Florida. Associate Professor Ryan Carney and Professor Sriram Chellappan developed the system using research dating back to 2018. Their aim is to help mosquito control teams identify the insects they catch without spending days examining them under a microscope.
The trap itself seems simple enough. Workers can hang it from a low tree branch or place it on the ground. A light or bait attracts mosquitoes and a small fan lures them inside. Once the insects land on a sticky mat, two built-in cameras photograph them. Artificial intelligence then compares these images to a large database to determine which species of mosquitoes were captured.
But technology goes further. It also helps determine whether a mosquito is male or female and whether it has recently fed on blood. This is useful information because female mosquitoes bite people and can transmit diseases. The researchers say their system achieved more than 98% accuracy in identifying mosquito species in laboratory tests.
GOOGLE WANTS TO FREE MILLIONS OF MOSQUITOES
A researcher exposes mosquitoes collected by the smart trap, which uses AI to identify potentially dangerous species much faster than traditional methods. (University of South Florida)
Why identifying mosquitoes faster could save lives
Traditional mosquito monitoring can take two to three days, as specialists often have to examine captured insects under a microscope. It’s valuable work, but when health officials are trying to track an outbreak, waiting several days can slow their response. Digitomy wants to significantly shorten this process. Its system uses AI and cloud computing with the aim of identifying mosquito species caught on the same day. This could help mosquito control teams determine where potentially dangerous species are appearing and decide where to focus their efforts.
This is particularly important for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species primarily responsible for the spread of dengue fever in Florida. There are approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world, but only certain species spread particular diseases. Knowing which ones are present can help managers make better decisions. There is an important point to understand. The trap identifies mosquito species capable of transmitting diseases. This does not automatically prove that a captured mosquito is infected with dengue. Health authorities would still need laboratory tests to confirm the presence of the virus.
AI mosquito traps could create an early warning system
What I find particularly interesting is what happens after the trap has identified a mosquito. Digitomy can send this information to a mapping dashboard, allowing mosquito control teams to see where certain species are appearing. The aim is to give mosquito control teams access to this information the same day, helping them identify where potentially dangerous species are appearing. Think about how useful this could be during an epidemic. If multiple traps start detecting more Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a neighborhood, authorities could investigate that area and consider targeted mosquito control measures. Instead of waiting for more people to get sick, they could use surveillance data to guide their response.
The researchers have already integrated the trap information into a private layer of their global mosquito sightings dashboard at Mosquitodashboard.org/. This system also integrates more than half a million citizen science reports. The idea is to combine information from automated traps with observations from people who help track mosquitoes. Digitomy’s technology could also complement an existing early warning system developed by Carney for dengue and West Nile virus. Together, these tools could give public health departments a clearer view of mosquito activity in communities. Of course, early detection of mosquitoes does not guarantee that an outbreak can be avoided. But faster information could help authorities respond more quickly, especially in areas where mosquito control resources are limited.
When could communities start using these smart traps?
Digitomy has already tested its technology at the University of South Florida and worked with the Anastasia Mosquito Control District in St. Johns County, which includes St. Augustine. Researchers are also preparing for field validation in Hillsborough County, where Florida’s dengue outbreak has been particularly severe. The startup is working with USF’s Technology Transfer Office to license the AI identification system to established mosquito trap manufacturers. This could allow companies to add this technology to equipment they already produce.
Digitomy is working toward commercial availability by licensing its AI technology to established mosquito trap manufacturers. As of now, the university has not announced a launch date or retail pricing. The company also received a $25,000 grant from the USF Research Foundation’s Bull Ring Accelerator during the summer of 2026. The funding is intended to help accelerate the licensing and commercialization of technology developed by the university. The team is also developing an online educational platform that would allow mosquito control professionals and the public to practice identifying mosquito species using AI-generated images and comments.
THIRD PERSON DIES AFTER MOSQUITO IS TRAPPED ON PLANE FROM GERMANY IN ‘AIRPORT MALARIA’ PHENOMENON
Researchers are testing the AI-powered mosquito trap in a controlled environment as they work to improve mosquito surveillance and help communities respond more quickly to disease threats. (University of South Florida)
What this AI mosquito trap means for you
You probably won’t be hanging a Digitomy trap in your garden anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean this technology couldn’t ultimately affect your community. If mosquito control agencies adopt smarter monitoring systems, they may be able to identify dangerous mosquito populations earlier and make better decisions about where to intervene. And even though we’re approaching November, people living in warmer regions still need to watch out for mosquito activity. If you are traveling to Florida or another place where mosquitoes remain active,…
Gn Health
