Beyond the Bite: Why This Mosquito Season Demands Heightened Vigilance
As the sweltering Florida summer truly takes hold, bringing with it the peak of mosquito season, health officials across the state and the country are sounding the alarm.
This year, however, the concern isn’t just about itchy bites and the usual West Nile virus warnings. A new, more pressing threat looms: an anticipated surge in dengue fever cases, signaling what many fear is a “new normal” for the tropical disease in the Sunshine State.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has amplified this concern, issuing an urgent Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to underscore the ongoing risk.
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With the current conditions – high humidity, frequent rain, and soaring temperatures – ideal for mosquito breeding, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for dengue, is thriving.
While dengue has historically been more common in tropical and subtropical regions outside the continental U.S., Florida has seen an increasing number of locally acquired cases in recent years, a trend that experts expect to intensify.
The CDC’s recent HAN Health Update reinforces this message.
According to the alert, “Dengue activity remains high in some parts of the United States and globally, with many countries reporting higher-than-usual number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025.” The agency emphasizes that “Healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public are urged to continue to take steps to prevent, detect, diagnose, and respond to dengue.”
The shift is attributed to a confluence of factors, including increased global travel and the challenges of controlling mosquito populations in densely populated areas.
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The CDC highlights that “Dengue virus transmission remains high in the Americas region, including in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States.”
Symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe, including high fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever, a life-threatening condition.
The CDC notes that “Approximately one in four DENV infections are symptomatic. Infection with any DENV serotype can cause severe illness, particularly in infants aged ≤1 year, pregnant women, adults aged ≥65 years, people with certain medical conditions, and people with previous DENV infections.”
Globally, dengue cases have “increased substantially in the last 5 years, with the most pronounced increases occurring in the Americas,” the CDC reported.
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This includes 4.6 million cases in 2023 and 13 million cases in 2024. In the continental United States in 2024, “locally acquired cases were reported in Florida (91), California (18), and Texas (1). A record number of dengue cases were identified among U.S. travelers (3,483 cases), which is an 84% increase compared to the previous year. This trend is expected to continue with increased dengue activity in endemic areas in 2025.”
The CDC further advises healthcare providers to “Take a thorough travel history for patients presenting with acute febrile illness,” and to “Continue to have increased suspicion of dengue among people with fever who have been in areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission within 14 days before illness onset.”
For diagnosis, the CDC recommends using the “CDC DENV-1-4 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay when dengue is the most likely diagnosis.”
Officials are urging residents to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their communities. Key recommendations, echoed by the CDC, include:
- Drain standing water: Emptying containers like planters, birdbaths, and pet water bowls at least once a week eliminates breeding grounds.
- Dress protectively: Wear long sleeves and pants, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Use repellent: Apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.
- Repair screens: Ensure windows and doors have intact screens to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
- Report mosquito activity: Contact local mosquito control if you notice a significant increase in mosquito populations.
The public health message is clear: dengue is no longer a distant threat. As mosquito season reaches its zenith, Floridians are being called upon to adapt to this “new normal” by embracing preventative measures, not just to avoid an annoying bite, but to safeguard against a potentially serious illness that is becoming an increasingly unwelcome resident of the Sunshine State.
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