{"id":2675450,"date":"2026-10-04T08:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T12:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ancient-mosquito-virus-plagues-western-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T08:03:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T12:03:50","slug":"ancient-mosquito-virus-plagues-western-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ancient-mosquito-virus-plagues-western-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Mosquito Virus Plagues Western Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fancient-mosquito-virus-plagues-western-florida%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2675450&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Dengue Fever is spreading in Florida, with three counties declaring a state of emergency due to high infection levels. Currently, 190 cases have been reported across six counties, primarily in the Tampa Bay area. The outbreaks are linked to Florida\u2019s warm climate,rain,and possibly the aftermath of hurricanes that may have introduced invasive species. Travel from dengue-affected regions like the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia also contributes to the rise in cases, mostly among travelers rather than local transmission. Authorities are taking measures such as insecticide spraying and public awareness campaigns to control mosquito populations and prevent further spread. Dengue is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and can lead to flu-like symptoms, severe complications, or death if untreated.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Dengue Fever is spreading across the Sunshine State, as three counties in Western Florida just declared a state of emergency due to unprecedented levels of the mosquito-borne illness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">One hundred ninety cases of locally acquired Dengue Fever have been reported across six counties according to the Florida Department of Health\u2019s <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.floridahealth.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fl-arbovirus-report-w37-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest<\/a> surveillance report. On Sept. 23, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pascocountyfl.gov\/_T18_R754.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pasco County<\/a> declared the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/locally-acquired-case-of-extremely-rare-dengue-fever-found-in-california\/\" title=\"Rare case of locally-acquired ... discovered in California.\">mosquito-borne viral infection<\/a> a local state of emergency. Pinellas County and <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/hcfl.gov\/newsroom\/2026\/09\/24\/dengue-fever-prompts-hillsborough-county-to-declare-state-of-local-emergency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hillsborough<\/a> County followed suit the next day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The state of emergency will last approximately one week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cFrom the County\u2019s perspective, our Mosquito Control team has increased surveillance, education and treatments in the impacted areas,\u201d a Pinellas County spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. \u201cResidents should know that there have been 179 confirmed cases of dengue in the three-county Tampa Bay area, with Pinellas showing seven, based on last Friday\u2019s DOH [department of health] report.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough County and Pasco County did not immediately respond to the DCNF\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/dengue\/data-research\/facts-stats\/current-data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> 392 cases for all of Florida as of Tuesday, that may have originated from travel. This is significantly higher than any other state. The next highest recorded number of cases on the CDC website is in California with 31 cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Florida\u2019s warm tropical climate and abundance of lakes, ponds, and rain provides the ideal breeding ground for the mosquitos, Florida\u2019s Environmental Pest Management <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/florida-environmental.com\/mosquitoes-in-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">states.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">However, health experts say that several different factors could have contributed to the resurgence of the disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The impacts of Hurricanes Milton and Helene could contribute to \u201cnonnative and invasive species to new parts of Florida and Georgia,\u201d WFLA <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wfla.com\/news\/florida\/hurricanes-helene-milton-may-have-spread-dozens-of-invasive-species-across-tampa-bay-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Travel is another factor that could have contributed to the outbreak. Dengue is <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/dengue\/areas-with-risk\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">common<\/a> in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cWe have a lot of people in Tampa who have close family ties to the Caribbean and go there a lot,\u201d Chris Wilkerson, a spokesperson for Hillsborough County told NBC News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cMost dengue cases reported in the 49 continental US states occur in travelers infected elsewhere,\u201d the CDC website says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Pinellas County Emergency Management d a flyer with the Daily Caller News Foundation titled \u201cFight the Bite.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cMosquitoes are more than just a nuisance,\u00a0they spread diseases that can make you sick. Fight the bite by taking steps to control mosquitoes and protect yourself and your family from mosquito-borne illness,\u201d the flyer stated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, believed to have originated from African and Asian regions. The virus possibly dates back thousands of years, with symptoms first documented in ancient China, around 265\u2013420 AD, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dengue.com\/origin-and-history-dengue-virus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to<\/a> Dengue.com. It can cause flu-like symptoms, including aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, rash and in severe cases, lead to internal bleeding, shock and death,<a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/dengue-and-severe-dengue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> according to<\/a> the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Hillsborough County is spraying insecticide from helicopters and trucks and is partnering with neighboring counties to spray liquid larvicide by helicopter, NBC News <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/health\/health-news\/dengue-fever-florida-virus-threat-rcna600286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Tire shops are also getting sprayed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cA used tire with a little bit of water in it is a maternity ward for mosquitoes,\u201d Wilkerson told NBC News.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. 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