‘Breakbone fever’ is surging worldwide as mosquitoes expand into new territories

Key Points:

• An elderly woman in Hillsborough County, Florida, reportedly died from dengue fever amid a local outbreak with 95 documented cases since July 2026, though the Florida Department of Health has not confirmed the cause.
• Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes common in Florida, causes symptoms like high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and can progress to life-threatening severe dengue in about 5% of cases.
• The disease is often misdiagnosed as flu or COVID-19 due to symptom overlap, and early recognition is critical to prevent severe complications, especially in high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic conditions.
• There is no cure or widely recommended vaccine for dengue in the U.S., so prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites through repellents, protective clothing, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
• Dengue cases are rising globally due to climate change and urbanization, with Florida facing increasing local transmission alongside travel-related infections, underscoring the importance of vigilance and public health measures.