Health officials in Hillsborough County, Florida, declared a state of local emergency on 24 September after recording 134 confirmed cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness typically found in countries outside the United States.
The declaration, issued by county officials, stated that the spread of the illness poses "an immediate and widespread threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents and visitors of Hillsborough county."
According to the CDC, 392 cases of dengue have been reported across the state so far this year. Hillsborough County leads the state in the number of dengue cases by a substantial margin, according to reports. The declaration of emergency allows officials to mobilize resources and take additional measures to control the outbreak.
Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and can cause severe flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, and joint pain. In rare cases, it can develop into a more severe form of the disease, known as dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The emergency declaration comes as health authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to take precautions against mosquito bites, such as using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.