An AP story in the Los Angeles Times on 3 October 2026: Florida has recorded more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, most in Hillsborough County (Tampa). Counties have declared local emergencies and crews are spraying for mosquitoes day and night.
Main points
- Cases: more than 250 locally acquired cases in 2026, most in Hillsborough; the state’s previous worst year was 2023 with just under 200. Hawaii’s 2015–16 outbreak had 264. One death: an elderly Tampa woman on 4 September.
- As of last month, locally acquired cases in Florida (252) had overtaken travel-associated cases (245). The CDC said it has given USD 800,000 to the state health department; the state has not invited CDC investigators.
- Response: mosquito spraying and checks for pooled water such as old tyres. Advice: EPA-registered repellents with ingredients such as DEET, long sleeves and long trousers, staying behind screens or in air-conditioned rooms, removing standing water.
- Context: WHO reports more than 2.2 million infections and nearly 1,200 deaths worldwide this year; the CDC reports nearly 1,900 locally acquired US cases, most in Puerto Rico.
VPMA’s note
International news from AP. Members can see how local authorities respond to an outbreak; it says nothing about the situation in Vietnam.
- Source
- AP / Los Angeles Times
- Published
- 3 October 2026
- Section
- International news
- Author
- Mike Stobbe, AP
Editorial note: This is a short summary and comment by VPMA, not a full copy. The original text and copyright belong to the source cited. Picture: Aedes aegypti mosquito in the AP story in the Los Angeles Times (James Gathany / CDC / AP).
Source: AP / Los Angeles Times (summarised in English by VPMA). Read the Vietnamese page.