Florida's Dengue Outbreak Keeps Growing After Emergency Declarations, Topping 425 Local Cases

Florida's Dengue Outbreak Keeps Growing After Emergency Declarations, Topping 425 Local Cases

Emergency powers failed to stop the climb

Florida's dengue outbreak has kept expanding weeks after three Tampa Bay counties declared local states of emergency. The state health department's surveillance report for the week ending October 17 put locally acquired cases at 425 statewide, up 57 in a single week, with 346 in Hillsborough County and 51 in Pinellas County. Cases have now been recorded in 11 counties.

Three counties sounded the alarm in September

Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties declared local states of emergency on September 23 to 24, unlocking faster mosquito-control operations, emergency purchases and possible state or federal aid. Under state law each declaration expires after seven days unless renewed; Hillsborough extended its emergency on October 8.

From 190 to 425 in a month: the worst in decades

One death, and nearly every sample is type 2

Mosquitoes, travel links and helicopters