A new weekly state count, a renewed emergency in Hillsborough, and an election result that mosquito-control officials were watching closely. This is Dengue Fever Watch for Friday, November 6th. We'll start with the latest Florida numbers and what Hillsborough did with its emergency order, then turn to Amendment 3.
From the 10 Tampa Bay newsroom, published Thursday:
Between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31, Florida DOH has confirmed 39 new dengue cases, with the largest increases in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Hillsborough's dengue fever numbers continue to climb, as more counties across the state report their first cases.
That brings Florida to 524 locally acquired dengue cases so far in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Health data cited by 10 Tampa Bay. Locally acquired means the person was infected by a mosquito here in Florida, not while traveling. Where did those 39 land? Mostly Tampa Bay. Hillsborough is now at 407, up from 385 in the state's report through October 24th. Pinellas is at 80, up from 67. Orange is at 10, and Miami-Dade is listed at 12. Pasco is still at 4. 10 Tampa Bay says the Tampa Bay area accounts for nearly 95 percent of local infections statewide. So Pinellas added 13 in that week and Hillsborough 22. That's Pinellas carrying a bigger slice of the new cases than of the year's total. It is, though one week is a short window, and these are cases confirmed during that week, not necessarily infections that happened then. And Hillsborough's emergency was set to lapse Thursday. Did it? No. County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed an order Thursday, November 5th, extending the local emergency through November 12th. Under county rules it lasts seven days unless it's extended or rescinded. The county says crews are increasing treatments by air and ground, and that its surveillance in many neighborhoods is showing dengue virus activity in mosquitoes. That's the same language it used on October 29th, and it sits alongside FOX 13's Monday report of traps testing negative. Neither account gives the trap details that would reconcile the two. And today is the last scheduled day of that Hillsborough aerial window, November 4th through 6th.
Dorothy Brooks, writing for Medical Daily on Thursday:
Nothing changes for this season's mosquito work. Local governments do not expect a significant drop in property tax revenue until fall 2027, with a much larger reduction in 2028.
On Tuesday we said we'd report the result. According to Bay News 9, as cited by Medical Daily, voters approved Amendment 3 on November 3rd with about 62 percent of the vote, just above the 60 percent needed. Medical Daily describes those as unofficial results. Remind people what it does. It raises the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes to 150,000 dollars in 2027 and 250,000 dollars in 2028. Many agencies that spray for mosquitoes depend on property taxes. So the helicopters and trucks working this outbreak aren't affected right now. Not this season, per the report. The question shifts to next year's county budgets and to the Legislature, which still has to pass laws carrying out the amendment. Which means the real numbers for mosquito districts come later. Until a county or district puts a figure on it, any cut is a guess.
If there's a county or a question you want us to keep an eye on, write to us at denguewatch at lantern podcasts dot com. We read every note.
The headline number today: 524 locally acquired cases statewide, with Hillsborough's emergency now running through November 12th. Sources for both stories are in the show notes. You've been listening to Dengue Fever Watch, a Lantern Podcast. We'll be back next time.