Florida's count of locally acquired dengue cases climbed to 425 this year after the state added 57 in a single week, according to the Florida Department of Health's Week 41 surveillance report, which covers data through Oct. 17. Infections spread by local mosquitoes have now been reported in 11 counties, up from eight a week earlier, as Brevard, Broward, and Citrus counties joined the state tally.
The newest growth reaches beyond Tampa Bay. Orange County has eight local cases, and three of them began in October. That is three of the 18 cases with October onset reported statewide so far. On Oct. 21, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County issued the county's first mosquito-borne illness advisory of the year after confirming a locally acquired case. That case is not yet reflected in the state count.
