Dengue alerts issued in these Florida locations. How to protect against mosquitoes

Key Points:

• The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued an alert on August 3 after confirming a locally-acquired dengue case, with three such cases reported statewide between July 26 and August 1.
• In 2026, four locally-acquired dengue cases have been reported across three Florida counties: Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach, prompting similar mosquito-borne illness alerts in Palm Beach County.
• Dengue, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes flu-like symptoms including severe muscle and joint pain, fever, and sometimes rash, with symptoms appearing within 14 days of a mosquito bite.
• Preventive measures recommended include eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, installing mesh screens on windows and doors, and regularly maintaining rain gutters and outdoor water sources.
• Miami-Dade County encourages residents to request mosquito inspections through an online portal and to take proactive steps to reduce mosquito populations to prevent diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever.