# Florida Dengue Cases Near 300; Tampa Bay Spikes in Pinellas and Hillsborough
*Local transmission rises sharply as health officials track nearly 300 cases across the state, with heavy concentration in the Tampa Bay area.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-dengue-cases-near-300-tampa-bay-spikes-in-pinellas-and-hillsborough
- Sección: Society
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-10-09T07:09:27.733Z
> Florida reports nearly 300 locally acquired dengue cases, concentrated in Tampa Bay. Data shows a sharp rise in Hillsborough County alongside increased travel-associated risks.

## Las claves

- Total local cases reach 296 with significant increase
- Hillsborough and Pinellas counties lead transmission rates
- Travel-related infections linked to Cuba visits

TAMPA, Fla. — Dengue fever cases continue to spike across the state of Florida as the current outbreak spreads primarily through the Tampa Bay region. According to the latest data released by the Florida Department of Health, there are now 296 locally acquired dengue fever cases recorded since the beginning of the year. This figure represents an increase of 44 new cases compared to the previous week, highlighting a rapid acceleration in local transmission rates that has drawn attention from health officials and residents alike.

### Heavy Concentration in Hillsborough and Pinellas

The bulk of these locally acquired infections appear to be concentrated in two specific counties. Hillsborough County reported 259 cases, making it the epicenter of the current outbreak within the state. Pinellas County followed with 20 reported cases. Together, these two counties account for the vast majority of local transmission events identified by health authorities.

A detailed breakdown of the data reveals that DENV-2 is the dominant strain responsible for infections in Hillsborough, accounting for 241 cases. Additionally, there are 18 cases attributed to unknown strains within the same county. In Pinellas County, all 20 reported cases were linked to the DENV-2 strain as well.

### Travel-Related Cases and National Context

In addition to the locally acquired infections, health officials have identified 262 cases among individuals who traveled to dengue-endemic areas outside of Florida. The majority of these travel-associated cases involve people who visited Cuba two weeks prior to showing symptoms. While local transmission remains the primary concern for immediate public safety in the Tampa Bay area, the high volume of imported cases underscores the ongoing risk of introducing new strains into the community, more context in [Florida dengue outbreak largest in US for decades, officials say](/noticia/florida-dengue-outbreak-largest-in-us-for-decades-officials-say).

Other counties reported significantly lower numbers compared to the Tampa Bay hub. Broward County had one case, Miami-Dade recorded eight, Palm Beach and Pasco each had three, and Polk County reported a single case. Orange County also saw three local cases. The data illustrates that while dengue is present statewide, the outbreak intensity varies drastically by region.

### Monitoring Public Health Trends

The Florida Department of Health continues to monitor these trends closely as summer months typically bring increased mosquito activity and potential for further spread. Residents in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are advised to take standard precautions against mosquito bites, including using repellent and eliminating standing water around homes.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-dengue-cases-near-300-tampa-bay-spikes-in-pinellas-and-hillsborough