Florida Sees Surge in Local Dengue Cases

Residents face rising mosquito-borne risk, with no dengue vaccine currently available in the United States.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Diseases — General

Wide view of still standing water among cypress knees and sawgrass at a subtropical Florida wetland edge, with mist rising in warm golden-hour light. — Florida recorded 598 locally transmitted dengue fever cases in 2026, a notable share of its roughly 1,000 total cases, with no U.S. dengue vaccine currently available. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Florida recorded 598 locally transmitted dengue fever cases in 2026, out of just over 1,000 total dengue cases in the state that year, according to the CDC. Residents across Florida are being told that local mosquito-borne transmission is occurring in the state.

Why it matters

Dengue is considered endemic in the continental United States, including Florida, but it rarely occurs there, so a high share of locally acquired cases marks a notable shift for the state's residents. The figures come as dengue remains a leading cause of death globally and no dengue vaccine is available in the United States.

The figures come from CDC case counts for 2026, with North Carolina's totals reported jointly by the CDC and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Florida's 598 locally transmitted cases make up just over half of its roughly 1,000 total dengue cases that year, while North Carolina's 10 cases compare with 16 at the same point in 2025.

The players

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The U.S. federal agency that tracks infectious diseases, including dengue fever, and publishes national case counts.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

The state agency responsible for public health surveillance and reporting in North Carolina, including mosquito-borne illnesses.

The details

Dengue fever is caused by any of four related viruses and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which also carry the zika and chikungunya viruses. Aedes mosquitoes are found in North Carolina as well as Florida. Because the mosquitoes spread the virus from person to person through bites, local transmission depends on mosquito populations being present where infected people are.

2009: Florida faced its first dengue outbreak in over 50 years.
2024: North Carolina recorded 70 dengue cases.
2025: North Carolina recorded 18 dengue cases.
2026: Florida recorded 598 locally transmitted dengue cases, and North Carolina recorded 10.
September 2026: Three West Nile cases were reported in Mecklenburg County.

Health Landscape

Florida's 2009 dengue outbreak was the first in the state in over 50 years, marking the last major period of local transmission before the 2026 figures. The 2026 count of 598 locally transmitted cases shows the disease is again circulating in the state, while no dengue vaccine is available in the United States.

If you live in Florida or travel there, the rise in locally acquired dengue is worth noting when you think about mosquito bite prevention, and it is worth raising with your doctor if you develop fever, severe headache, or muscle and joint pain after a bite. Because no dengue vaccine is available in the United States, avoiding mosquito bites remains the main available protection.

The takeaway

Local dengue transmission in Florida is a reminder that the disease is no longer rare there. Reducing mosquito exposure and discussing any fever or unusual symptoms with a physician are practical steps to keep in mind.