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'Breakbone Fever' cases in Florida prompt mosquito-borne illness alerts
FOX Weather • • health
Key Points:
- Florida has reported at least 10 locally acquired cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne virus known as "breakbone fever" due to its painful symptoms affecting muscles, joints, bones, and eyes.
- In 2026, Florida recorded 149 dengue cases, with Hillsborough and Pinellas counties issuing alerts after confirming local transmission, though the CDC states the risk of widespread spread remains low.
- Dengue is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which are present in the U.S., allowing for occasional local transmission despite most U.S. cases being travel-related.
- Symptoms typically appear within two weeks of a mosquito bite and last two to seven days, including fever, headache, rash, nausea, and vomiting; about 5% of cases may develop severe dengue, which can be life-threatening.
- Limited local dengue transmission has also been reported in Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, and California, with the virus reported in all U.S. states except Alaska.
