Florida has reported the first dengue fever death of 2026 amid an outbreak of mosquito-borne illnesses, according to reports.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Friday, Sept. 18, which it says occurred in Hillsborough County.
“We are reminding all residents and visitors throughout the state to take precautions from mosquito-borne illnesses by appropriately applying insect repellent, avoiding areas with high mosquito populations, draining any standing water, and wearing long pants and shirts when possible — especially during sunrise and sunset, when mosquitoes are most active,” spokesperson Claire Maher said in a statement.
Florida Dengue Cases Have More Than Doubled
The Tampa Bay Times was the first to report on the death, which it says occurred at Tampa General Hospital. The victim was 80-year-old Gay Small, the outlet reported. She died of “dengue infection” along with “septic shock” and “multi-organ failure,” according to a death certificate obtained by the Times.
Dengue fever spiked in Florida recently, totaling 332 overall cases as of Sept. 16, according to the CDC.
The state’s health department reported on Sept. 12 that it had 153 locally acquired cases, meaning people caught it in Florida, not while traveling abroad. This compares with 62 people who tested positive for locally acquired infections in 2025.
Of those, 134 were reported in Hillsborough County.
Dengue Symptoms and Serious Illness
The symptoms of dengue are generally flu-like, including aches and pains, nausea, vomiting and rash. About 1 in 20 people who contract dengue develop a more serious illness called hemorrhagic fever, according to the CDC, which can entail symptoms such as abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, and blood in stool or vomit.
This season has been particularly active for mosquito-borne illnesses nationwide, especially West Nile and dengue.
“We’re seeing a number of mosquito-borne diseases appear more frequently or in areas where historically they have been uncommon,” Dr. Jorge Parada, medical adviser for the National Pest Management Association, previously told USA TODAY. “Warmer temperatures and longer mosquito seasons can expand the range of certain mosquito species and increase the amount of time they remain active each year.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Reporting by Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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