State health officials confirm two dengue cases in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach Counties
By Jenny Staletovich
August 3, 2026 at 2:06 PM EDT
The Florida Department of Health announced Monday that it had confirmed a locally-transmitted case of dengue fever in Palm Beach as well as Miami-Dade County.
The report marks the third local case for the mosquito-borne disease this year. In July, officials confirmed the first local case in Hillsborough County. Another 49 travel-related cases of dengue have been confirmed across Florida as of July 25.
READ MORE: Cutting Florida property taxes could take a bite out of mosquito control
The news comes as voters prepare to decide on a statewide property tax amendment that would cut funding to services, including the state’s independent mosquito control districts.
According to state health records, a case of West Nile virus confirmed in Alachua County in May is the only other local case of a mosquito-borne illness.
As of July 25, 39 travel cases of Chikungunya have also been reported in counties across the state. Those include 19 in Miami-Dade, three in Palm Beach, two in Monroe and one in Broward. Other travel-related cases of dengue include 21 in Miami-Dade, six in Broward and four in Palm Beach.
Health officials say dengue can presents as a flu-like illness with muscle aches, join pain, fever and sometimes a rash. Symptoms can manifest within 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.
The report marks the third local case for the mosquito-borne disease this year. In July, officials confirmed the first local case in Hillsborough County. Another 49 travel-related cases of dengue have been confirmed across Florida as of July 25.
READ MORE: Cutting Florida property taxes could take a bite out of mosquito control
The news comes as voters prepare to decide on a statewide property tax amendment that would cut funding to services, including the state’s independent mosquito control districts.
According to state health records, a case of West Nile virus confirmed in Alachua County in May is the only other local case of a mosquito-borne illness.
As of July 25, 39 travel cases of Chikungunya have also been reported in counties across the state. Those include 19 in Miami-Dade, three in Palm Beach, two in Monroe and one in Broward. Other travel-related cases of dengue include 21 in Miami-Dade, six in Broward and four in Palm Beach.
Health officials say dengue can presents as a flu-like illness with muscle aches, join pain, fever and sometimes a rash. Symptoms can manifest within 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.