A second locally acquired dengue fever case has been confirmed in Hillsborough County, according to a Tuesday, Aug. 4 report from WFLA. The announcement comes one week after DOH-Hillsborough confirmed the county's first dengue case of the 2026 season.
Hillsborough was the first county in Florida to report local dengue transmission this year.
DOH-Hillsborough and Hillsborough County Mosquito Management are now coordinating additional surveillance and treatments in response to the confirmed cases.
What Lutz and Land O' Lakes residents should know
Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a daytime biter. Unlike the mosquitoes most active at dawn and dusk, Aedes aegypti feeds throughout the day, meaning outdoor protection isn't limited to evening hours.
The disease is not contagious person-to-person.
Symptoms can appear within 15 days of a bite from an infected mosquito and include severe muscle aches, joint pain, fever, and sometimes a rash. DOH-Hillsborough noted there are typically no respiratory symptoms, which can help distinguish dengue from a summer cold or flu.
Anyone experiencing those symptoms should call DOH-Hillsborough directly at 813-307-8010, according to the Tampa Free Press.
How to protect yourself
DOH-Hillsborough is urging residents to:
- Apply EPA-registered insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing. The department confirmed these products are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women when used as directed.
- Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors.
- Repair damaged window and door screens.
- Drain standing water from garbage cans, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, and any container where rainwater collects.
Mosquito control response
According to the county's mosquito management program, Hillsborough uses both ground trucks and helicopters for targeted treatment. The county's aerial program applies BTI, a naturally occurring bacterium approved by the EPA that kills mosquito larvae without harming humans, pets, or beneficial insects.
Residents can sign up for spray notifications and view treatment schedules at HCFL.gov/Mosquito.
Context
Florida recorded 62 locally acquired dengue cases statewide in 2025, spread across Brevard, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Pasco counties. In 2023, the state saw 154 cases. Hillsborough County has a documented history of local transmission.
DOH-Hillsborough said it continues statewide surveillance for multiple mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Residents are also asked to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as bird deaths can signal mosquito-borne virus activity in an area.
