Pinellas County has recorded two locally acquired cases of dengue fever, the county’s first local transmission of the mosquito-borne virus in more than 15 years.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County issued a mosquito-borne illness alert Aug. 11 following confirmation of the two cases. Neighboring Hillsborough County has reported eight locally acquired cases, bringing the Tampa Bay total to 10.
Pinellas County Mosquito Control has concentrated its response in Palm Harbor, increasing inspections and deploying truck-mounted fogging operations at dawn. County officials said surveillance has shown increased mosquito populations and mosquito-borne virus activity…