Florida mosquito control agencies are expanding surveillance, inspections and spraying as officials anticipate more locally acquired dengue fever cases in Tampa Bay and elsewhere across the state in the coming weeks. The response follows dozens of confirmed infections reported this year.

As of Sept. 1, Florida had recorded 41 locally acquired dengue cases, including 33 in Tampa Bay. Locally acquired cases involve people who contracted the illness where they live rather than during travel abroad.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association reported 30 confirmed cases in Hillsborough County. It also reported seven in Miami Dade County, three in Pinellas County and one in Palm Beach County.

The Florida Department of Health has issued mosquito borne illness alerts for Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Meanwhile, mosquito control agencies are increasing their efforts in areas where dengue virus activity has been detected.

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Dengue is a mosquito borne viral illness that can cause fever, severe aches, nausea and rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In rare cases, the illness can lead to life threatening complications.

The virus is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa. Although dengue is less common in the continental U.S., locally acquired cases have been documented in Florida, California and Texas.

Past outbreaks have also occurred in Hawaii. Dengue is common in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

The CDC reported in May that 2024 was a record year for dengue in the U.S. A total of 3,798 cases were reported from U.S. states and the District of Columbia, representing a 359% increase over the annual average from 2010 through 2023.

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About 97% of the cases reported in 2024 were associated with travel, while roughly 3% were locally acquired. Florida reported 1,044 cases, more than a quarter of the total and the highest number among U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Florida also recorded 85 locally acquired cases across 10 counties in 2024. By comparison, California reported 18 locally acquired cases and Texas reported two that year.

"Dengue does not stop at county lines," Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro told Fox 13.

"The mosquitoes that transmit the virus generally stay within a relatively small area, but people travel throughout the Tampa Bay area every day. When someone infected with dengue enters a new area, a local mosquito can bite that person and later spread the virus to others. As cases rise across the region, so does the potential for additional local transmission."

Mosquito control crews are increasing aerial and ground treatments in locations showing dengue virus activity, according to local reports. Crews are also inspecting private properties for possible mosquito breeding sites.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association is urging residents to empty or cover standing water near their homes. The mosquito that spreads dengue is a container breeder, laying eggs in buckets, planters, plant saucers, tires, discarded toys and other objects that hold small amounts of water.

The association also advises residents to follow what it calls the "three Ds." People should dress in long sleeves, light colors and closed toed shoes while outdoors.

Residents are also advised to defend themselves with repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. The final step is to dump standing water from containers around the home and inspect yards regularly.

Many people infected with dengue have no symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. Most people who become sick recover within a week or two, but some cases can progress to severe dengue, which is potentially life threatening.

Warning signs can appear quickly, often within a day or two after a fever subsides. Those signs may include severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness and irritability, or restlessness.

Health officials are urging people in areas with dengue transmission to take precautions against mosquito bites. People who experience warning signs of severe dengue should seek immediate medical care.