Florida Records First Dengue Fever Death in 2026

Florida’s Dengue Fever Challenges

Florida reported its first confirmed dengue fever death of 2026 earlier this month, as per the Florida Department of Health. Gay Small from Hillsborough County passed away on September 4th, her 80th birthday, due to complications related to dengue infection. She experienced septic shock and multi-organ failure after a mosquito bite near her home on Bayshore Boulevard, according to The Tampa Bay Times.

Anna Small, Gay’s daughter, expressed her grief in an interview with Tampa’s WFLA Channel 8. She described her mother as someone who stayed healthy by walking and eating right. Unfortunately, Gay was infected by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus, which resulted in severe health complications.

Understanding Dengue Fever

People previously infected by dengue have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms in future infections. Gay Small’s family believes she initially contracted dengue during travels abroad, years before. In the hospital, Small’s condition worsened, showing signs of weakness, red hands, and vocal trembles, as reported by WFLA.

Dengue fever is transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause fever, severe aches, nausea, and rash. In rare situations, it leads to life-threatening complications.

Bob Small, Gay’s late husband, dedicated his career to dengue vaccine development, ironically facing the disease that took his wife’s life.

Rising Dengue Cases in Florida

The Florida Department of Health confirmed Gay Small’s death after investigation but withheld additional details. Dengue death records in Tampa Bay have been scarce over the past century, according to University of South Florida’s public health instructor Kristi Miley.

Dengue fever is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas, including Southeast Asia, Western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa. While less common in the continental U.S., local cases have emerged in Florida, California, and Texas.

Florida has reported a surge in locally acquired dengue cases since July. Residents are falling sick at home rather than contracting the illness abroad. Hillsborough County, where Small lived, has become a focal point of this outbreak. Both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts.

Efforts to Control Mosquitoes

Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro noted that infected individuals traveling around Tampa Bay pose a threat of spreading dengue locally. Increased treatments aim to mitigate this risk.

Efforts to control mosquito populations include heightened surveillance, inspections, and the use of insecticides and larvicides. Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services has been inspecting private properties for potential mosquito breeding sites.

Mosquito-control teams in Tampa Bay have intensified their activities, leading to improvements. Recent mosquito tests on 1,500 samples showed negative results for dengue.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) advises residents to remove standing water around homes. Dengue mosquitoes often lay eggs in objects collecting small amounts of water, like buckets and planters.

• Dress: Wear long sleeves, light-colored clothing, and closed-toed shoes.
• Defend: Use repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Dump: Regularly empty containers that may hold water around the home.

According to the Mayo Clinic, many infected individuals experience no symptoms. Those who do become sick usually recover within one to two weeks. Immediate medical care is essential when severe dengue warning signs like stomach pain, vomiting, unusual bleeding, and difficulty breathing occur.

Teresa Mull is a freelance writer with Fox News Digital’s Lifestyle team.