Pasco County Declares Local State of Emergency as Dengue Fever Spreads Across Tampa Bay

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners declared a local state of emergency over dengue fever this week, as the mosquito-borne virus spreads through the Tampa Bay region and Pasco confirms its first two cases of the year. The declaration, issued Sept. 23 and announced Sept. 24, 2026, lasts seven days unless commissioners rescind it sooner.

The order gives the county administrator and the emergency management director authority to waive normal bureaucratic procedures so public health crews can move faster, whether that means ordering supplies, deploying mosquito control resources, or coordinating with state health officials without the usual paperwork delays.

Pasco County is now actively assisting the Pasco County Mosquito Control District and the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County as they track the virus and treat breeding sites. Officials are urging every household to follow "Drain and Cover" guidance: drain standing water from anything that can hold it, from flowerpot saucers to gutters, and cover skin with repellent and long sleeves during peak mosquito hours.

Why Pasco acted now

Pasco's two confirmed cases are small next to what's happening just south of the county line. Hillsborough County has logged more than 130 dengue cases this year, roughly 88% of all infections statewide, and recorded its first dengue-related death. Pinellas County has reported seven cases. Tampa General Hospital says it has treated more than 100 patients for the virus.

Dengue has earned the nickname "break-bone fever" for good reason. Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi, chief hospital epidemiology officer at Tampa General Hospital, has described patients coming into the emergency room primarily because of the pain, which can settle deep into the joints, bones and muscles. Other symptoms include nausea and pain behind the eyes.

Cherabuddi has said that about one in four people infected with dengue actually get sick, and roughly one in 20 of those who do develop symptoms go on to develop severe disease. The most dangerous window, he's noted, often opens right after the fever starts to break, not while it's at its worst. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums, or difficulty breathing in the day or two after a fever drops are signs to get to an emergency room immediately.

What happens next

The emergency declaration is set to expire seven days from Sept. 23 unless the Board of County Commissioners votes to extend it. Mosquito control crews are expected to keep up spraying and larvicide treatments in neighborhoods where standing water collects, and the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County continues to monitor for new cases. The county has not said whether it expects to renew the declaration beyond the initial week.

Stay connected with Pasco County Community Website for updates on this developing story, and follow us on Facebook for real-time alerts. Have a question about mosquito activity in your neighborhood or a tip to share? Join the conversation in our Community Forum. For more coverage of public safety issues affecting Pasco County, visit our public safety section or catch up on the latest healthcare news from around the county.