Good day.

Please see the alert below from the Department of Health.

 

Stacy O’Donnell Executive Aide to Chairman Dave Eggers Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 sodonnell@pinellas.gov Office (727) 464-3276   All government correspondence is subject to public record law.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2026

DOH-Pinellas Issues Mosquito-Borne Illness

Alert

Contact:

Thomas Iovino

thomas.iovino@flhealth.gov

727-568-8160

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) is informing residents oftwo confirmed cases of locally-acquired dengue. DOH-Pinellas and Pinellas County Mosquito

Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts by conducting treatment such as increased truck fogging, aerial larviciding and localized ground inspections for breeding locations.

Dengue can present as a flu-like illness with severe muscle aches and joint pain, fever, andsometimes a rash. Usually, there are no respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of dengue willappear within 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Dengue fever is not contagious but is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.

DOH-Pinellas reminds the community to avoid mosquito bites by taking basic precautions. More information is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.

• Wear protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.

• Apply insect repellents that are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to exposed skin and clothing. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• Control mosquitoes inside and outside. Repair damaged screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Drain water from garbage cans, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.

The Department continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For more information, visit the Department’s mosquito prevention webpage or view the weekly mosquito-borne illness surveillance reports.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, please call your healthcare provider.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov.