Dengue Fever – What to Know

What to know about dengue fever with cases reported in Pasco and adjacent counties

September 24, 2026 michele525 HEALTH NEWS, IN THE LOOP, PASCO COUNTY NEWS, Uncategorized 0

September 24, 2026

Information from the Florida Department of Health

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease related to the viruses that cause West Nile and yellow fever. Dengue fever can be a painful, debilitating disease but is rarely fatal.

Several cases are reported in Florida each year in people traveling to areas where the disease is present. These imported cases are usually from dengue endemic regions such as the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Asia.

The close proximity of areas with dengue, such as Puerto Rico, and frequent international travel among Florida residents make it possible to have dengue reintroduced.

Dengue infection is acquired through the bite of certain species of mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti, but also Aedes albopictus, both of which are present in Florida.

Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include sudden onset of fever, severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint pain (giving the disease the nickname “breakbone fever”), and bleeding. Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea may also be present in some cases.
Dengue fever symptoms usually last 4-7 days. The disease is often diagnosed incorrectly because the symptoms are similar to influenza and other viruses.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a rare but more severe form of dengue infection that can be fatal if not recognized and treated with supportive care.

There is no treatment for dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, but quick recognition and management of symptoms and complications is effective at preventing deaths.