Tampa Bay Area Counties Declare States of Emergency Amid Dengue Fever Surge
Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in the Tampa Bay area have declared states of emergency due to a significant increase in dengue fever cases, including the first reported fatality in Tampa Bay in nearly a century.
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, September 24, 2026 —
In response to a concerning rise in dengue fever cases, officials in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties have declared states of emergency. This collective action by the three Tampa Bay area counties highlights the severity of the current outbreak.
The declarations come as the region grapples with a significant increase in dengue fever infections. This outbreak is particularly notable due to the reporting of the first death attributed to dengue fever in the Tampa Bay area in approximately one hundred years. The situation has prompted local authorities to implement emergency measures to address the public health challenge.
A state of emergency typically allows government officials to mobilize resources, coordinate response efforts, and potentially enact measures aimed at controlling the spread of disease and providing necessary care. The specific details of the emergency declarations, including the precise timeline and any additional measures being implemented by each county, were not immediately available. The contractor’s name was not provided. The fine amount was not provided. The permit status was not provided. The inspection outcomes were not provided. The code violations were not provided. What happened next was not provided.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe flu-like symptoms, and in some cases, can lead to a more severe form of the disease. Public health officials are expected to provide further guidance and updates to residents regarding prevention and safety measures in light of the increased cases and the declaration of emergency status across the counties.
Story summarized from the original created by By Justine Griffin, Times staff,By Lizzy Alspach, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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