Hillsborough County has extended its state of local emergency until Thursday, November 5, as dengue fever infections in the Tampa Bay area approach 400.
The declaration gives the Florida county continued access to state resources and allows officials to seek reimbursement for some of the costs linked to the emergency response.
Florida Department of Health figures record 385 dengue cases in Hillsborough County, including one reported death. Pinellas County has recorded 67 cases, while Pasco has four, Manatee two and Polk one.
Hillsborough County dengue response
Officials are urging residents to check their gardens and remove any containers holding stagnant water after heavy rain across the region over Halloween weekend.
Paolo Pecora, a senior environmental scientist with Hillsborough County Mosquito Management, said wet and humid conditions were continuing to support mosquito activity.
“With these active rainstorms that are coming into the region that we’ve seen over the weekend, mosquitoes still love that,” he told local television station FOX 13. “They still love water. They still love the humidity that we’re seeing. Temperatures haven’t cooled down quite yet.”
Dengue is spread by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms can include fever, joint pain and muscle aches, although some people may have no symptoms.
Hillsborough County has deployed truck and helicopter spraying operations as part of an effort to reduce both adult mosquitoes and breeding sites. Officials say mosquito traps in the county continue to test negative for dengue.
Targeted treatment has also reduced mosquito numbers in some areas. In East Lake, officials reported a 97 per cent fall in the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the species responsible for transmitting dengue.
Residents have been advised to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves when outdoors and empty standing water from items such as buckets, plant pots, toys and discarded containers.
“We want to knock down the adult mosquitoes that are actively spreading the virus, and then also we want to make sure that we’re eliminating the offspring,” Pecora said.
Health officials are continuing to review mosquito-trap results and case numbers following the latest rainfall, while the local emergency declaration remains in force through November 5.
