Dengue Is Surging in Florida—and It’s Claimed Its First Life in Nearly 100 Years – Gizmodo

Dengue Is Surging in Florida—and It’s Claimed Its First Life in Nearly 100 Years  GizmodoWhat to know about dengue fever as Florida reports 1st death and cases rise  ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and VideosTampa woman is first dengue fever death recorded in Florida  Tampa Bay TimesHealth de­partment says there are now 134 dengue fever cases in Hills­borough County; 1 death confirmed  Bay News 9Map shows dengue fever cases in each state as Florida records first 2026 death  Yahoo

Florida has recorded hundreds of dengue cases this year, many of which were locally acquired. A dangerous viral disease spread by mosquitoes is making inroads into the United States—and it’s now claimed the life of a Florida woman. Officials with the Florida Department of Health confirmed the dengue-related death of a Hillsborough County resident, the Tampa Bay Times reported over the weekend. The resident, identified by her family as 80-year-old Gay Small, died earlier this month. Her death is the first recorded in the state from dengue in nearly a century and comes amidst a surge of cases reported in Florida this year.

According to her family, Small first started to feel ill in late August. She had developed a tremor, slurred speech, and broken blood vessels around her ankles. Her daughter, Anna Small, rushed her to urgent care, where a doctor then sent her to the hospital. By Sunday, August 30, Small informed her daughter that she had been diagnosed with dengue fever. Unfortunately, Small’s health only worsened