VIERA, Fla. — Oct. 25, 2026 — Brevard County has a confirmed human case of dengue that was caught locally. According to the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard), the person got the virus here rather than while traveling.[1]
The department announced the case on Oct. 16 in an updated mosquito-borne illness advisory.[1]
What "locally acquired" means
Dengue is one of the mosquito-borne illnesses the state tracks.[1] A locally acquired case means the person was infected here, not while traveling. The department's release does not name the patient or give a location within the county.[1]
What the county is doing
According to the release, DOH-Brevard and Brevard County Mosquito Control are "coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts by enhanced monitoring for mosquitoes and diseases as well as targeted mosquito treatment and overnight spraying to reduce the risk of disease transmission."[1]
The second advisory since September
The October notice updates an earlier one. On Sept. 3, DOH-Brevard issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory after "several sentinel chickens have tested positive for West Nile virus."[2]
The department posted a separate rabies alert the same day, after a raccoon captured in Melbourne tested positive.[2]
What the state tracks
The state health department says it "continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses." Those illnesses include West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue.[1] It encourages Floridians to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.[1]
How to protect yourself
DOH-Brevard is reminding residents "to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes," and it links its standard precautions from the advisory.[1] The Florida Department of Health's prevention guidance is built around "Drain and Cover":[3]
- Drain standing water from containers such as garbage cans, buckets, coolers, toys and flowerpots. Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week.[3]
- Cover your skin. If you must be outside when mosquitoes are active, wear long pants and long sleeves, and apply repellent to exposed skin and clothing according to the label.[3]
- Cover doors and windows with screens, and repair damaged screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.[3]
The state lists EPA-registered repellents with active ingredients including DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus. It says that when used as directed they "are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women."[3] It also advises mosquito netting for children younger than 2 months old.[3]
Who to contact
Media questions go to DOH-Brevard Communications at DOH-Brevard.Communications@FLHealth.gov.[1] Advisories and updates are posted on the department's county news page.[2]
Sources
- Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, "DOH-Brevard Issues Updated Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory," Oct. 16, 2026. https://brevard.floridahealth.gov/2026/10/16/doh-brevard-issues-mosquito-borne-illness-advisory-copy/
- Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, News page (accessed Oct. 25, 2026). https://brevard.floridahealth.gov/news/
- Florida Department of Health, "Mosquito and Insect-Borne Disease Prevention" (accessed Oct. 25, 2026). https://www.floridahealth.gov/individual-family-health/injury-prevention-wellness/mosquito-and-insect-borne-disease-prevention/
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