80-Year-old Florida Woman Dies From Dengue on Her Birthday
WHO:
ABC News - The deceased is an 80-year-old woman from Tampa, Florida.
ABC News - Chris Wilkerson is a spokesperson for Hillsborough County.
ABC News - Paolo Pecora is a senior environmental scientist for Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services.
ABC News - Michael von Fricken is an associate professor of environmental and global health at the University of Florida.
WHAT:
NY Post - Recent mosquito sampling indicates the outbreak is gradually dissipating.
ABC News - The current outbreak in Florida is experiencing a total of 152 locally acquired dengue cases reported so far this year, ranking second in the state's history.
ABC News - Nearly 1,500 locally acquired dengue cases have been reported in the United States this year, with most occurring in Puerto Rico.
ABC News - The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death from dengue fever.
ABC News - There have been more than 130 locally acquired dengue cases reported in Hillsborough County this year.
ABC News - The current outbreak in Florida is one of the worst in decades, with 152 locally acquired cases reported so far this year.
ABC News - The largest number of dengue cases in Florida was nearly 200 in 2023.
ABC News - More than 2.2 million dengue infections have been reported worldwide this year, with nearly 1,200 deaths.
WHERE:
ABC News - The outbreak is centered just north of Tampa, Florida.
ABC News - Hillsborough County is the specific location where the death and cases have been reported.
WHEN:
ABC News - The woman died on September 4.
ABC News - The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death on a Friday, though the specific date is not provided.
WHY:
ABC News - The outbreak is likely due to recent weather conditions that allowed virus-spreading mosquitoes to multiply, which is described as "wildly unusual" for the area according to Chris Wilkerson.
ABC News - The outbreak is likely due to recent weather conditions that allowed virus-spreading mosquitoes to multiply.
ABC News - Dengue is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes, which are expanding their geographic reach due to climate change.
HOW:
ABC News - Workers have been actively spraying to kill mosquitoes day and night and checking properties for pooled water, including in tires, where mosquitoes might breed.
ABC News - Workers have been spraying to kill mosquitoes day and night and checking properties for pooled water where mosquitoes might breed.
ABC News - Recent mosquito sampling has not been finding the virus, indicating a waning likelihood of new infections.
(UPDATED September 19, 2026 02:07 UTC)
Recent mosquito sampling shows that the dengue outbreak in Florida is gradually dissipating, although the state has reported a total of 152 locally acquired cases this year, marking the second highest in its history. Across the United States, nearly 1,500 locally acquired dengue cases have been reported this year, with the majority occurring in Puerto Rico, and experts attribute the outbreak to recent weather conditions that have allowed virus-spreading mosquitoes to multiply. To combat this, workers are actively spraying to eliminate mosquitoes and checking properties for standing water, including tires, where these pests might breed.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 01:19 UTC)
An 80-year-old woman from Tampa, Florida, has died from dengue fever, marking a significant concern as the Florida Department of Health confirms this death amid a severe outbreak in the region. Hillsborough County has reported over 130 locally acquired dengue cases this year, contributing to one of the worst outbreaks in decades, with a total of 152 cases statewide. Efforts to combat the spread include continuous spraying to eliminate mosquitoes and monitoring for breeding sites, with recent tests showing a decrease in the presence of the virus.