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Health alerts issued as cases of painful illness typically found in tropical countries spreads across Florida
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- At least 10 locally acquired cases of dengue have been reported in Florida in 2026, with Hillsborough County reporting eight cases and Pinellas County reporting two, prompting mosquito-borne illness alerts.
- Dengue, also known as "breakbone fever," is a painful mosquito-borne virus causing muscle, joint, and bone aches, along with symptoms like fever, rash, nausea, and headache.
- While dengue cases are reported in 49 U.S. states, local transmission is rare, but the presence of Aedes mosquitoes in the U.S. allows for limited local spread, as seen in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, and California.
- The CDC states the risk of widespread dengue transmission in the U.S. remains low, and most infected individuals recover within a week, though about 1 in 20 may develop severe dengue, which can be life-threatening.
- The CDC advises anyone with dengue symptoms who lives in or has recently traveled to areas with dengue risk to seek medical attention promptly.
