Florida has reported the first dengue fever death of 2026 amid an outbreak of mosquito-borne illnesses, the Florida Department of Health confirmed in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Friday, Sept. 18
The death occurred in Hillsborough County, according to the statement, and the victim was an 80-year-old woman.
"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.
First dengue fever death recorded in Florida at Tampa General Hospital. Who was the victim?
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.
What is dengue? How is it spread?
Dengue infections are spread by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected with dengue after biting a person with the virus. Those infected mosquitoes then spread the virus to other people.
What are the symptoms of dengue fever?
"Dengue fever can be a painful, debilitating disease but is rarely fatal," the Florida Department of Health said. Symptoms appear three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include:
- Sudden onset of fever
- Severe headache
- Eye pain
- Muscle and joint pain (giving the disease the nickname “breakbone fever”)
- Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea may also be present in some cases.
Dengue fever symptoms usually last four to seven days.
In rare cases, dengue hemorrhagic fever can develop from dengue infection and can be fatal if not recognized and treated with supportive care.
There is no treatment for dengue fever, but quick identification and management of symptoms can prevent it from becoming more severe.
Where has dengue been reported in Florida? Is it spreading?
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 is compared to 2025, during which 62 people tested positive for locally acquired infections.
Of those, 134 were reported in Hillsborough County.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida confirms first dengue fever death of 2026
