Home / Health / Florida Woman Dies of Dengue on Birthday
Florida Woman Dies of Dengue on Birthday
19 Sep
Summary
- An elderly Florida woman succumbed to dengue fever on her 80th birthday.
- Her death marks the first recorded dengue fatality in Florida for 2026.
- Tampa Bay region reports its first dengue fatality in nearly a century.
An 80-year-old Florida woman died from dengue fever on September 4, 2026, marking the state's first recorded fatality from the mosquito-borne disease in 2026. The woman, Gay Small, was bitten near her home in Tampa. Her death certificate cited dengue infection, septic shock, and multi-organ failure as causes.
This event is the Tampa Bay region's first dengue fatality in almost a century. Florida has confirmed 152 dengue cases statewide, with 134 in Hillsborough County. The state is experiencing its second-worst year for dengue on record, with cases nearing the 2023 peak. Health officials are implementing measures like pesticide spraying to control the outbreak.
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