Hillsborough County Deploys Helicopters to Fight Dengue Outbreak

Hillsborough County is deploying helicopters and mosquito control teams from across Florida to combat a dengue fever outbreak that has infected nearly 300 people statewide.

The county accounts for approximately 90% of Florida's dengue cases, including one death. Four helicopters sprayed larvicide Wednesday evening across the I-4 and I-275 corridor, where case concentrations are highest, though dengue has spread to 51 of the county's nearly 60 ZIP codes.

Crews from Pasco, Manatee, and Brevard counties and the Florida Department of Agriculture are assisting Hillsborough's around-the-clock efforts. The statewide response addresses a critical gap: while Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes don't travel far, infected residents do. Jennifer McBride of the Lee County Mosquito Control District cited a case where a Hillsborough resident unknowingly spread dengue in a tourist area after traveling with symptoms.

Gabriela Henderson with Hillsborough County's Mosquito Management said 36 of 40 new traps set last week caught zero mosquitoes, signaling progress. She urged residents to eliminate standing water, which breeds larvae after heavy rains common to the region. Officials expect case numbers to decline as mosquito season ends and weather conditions shift.