Florida Confirms First Dengue Death in Nearly 100 Years

Florida has confirmed its first dengue-related death in nearly 100 years in the Tampa Bay area, after an elderly Tampa woman died from the mosquito-borne disease on September 4, the Tampa Bay Times first reported.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed on Friday that the death was linked to dengue but released no further details, according to The Associated Press.

Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, has recorded more than 130 dengue infections acquired locally this year, compared with the handful of cases the county typically sees, a county spokesperson said.

Statewide, Florida has confirmed 152 locally acquired dengue cases in 2026, second only to the nearly 200 reported in 2023.

Dengue is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Scientists say some mosquito species are expanding into new areas as the climate warms, while recent wet weather in Florida has helped mosquito populations grow.

Michael von Fricken, a University of Florida researcher in environmental and global health, said outbreaks like this typically begin when a person infected while traveling is bitten by a local mosquito, which can then transmit the virus to others.

He said Florida’s growing mosquito populations mean the risk may not fade soon.

Sources: Tampa Bay Times, September 2026; Mike Stobbe, The Associated Press, September 18, 2026; Florida Department of Health.