Tampa Expands Dengue Outreach as Crews Remove 23 Tons of Tires

The City of Tampa expanded its dengue outreach after more than 200 cases were reported in Hillsborough County and additional rain was expected across the region. In its October 8 update, the City said staff would join the Florida Department of Health for door-to-door conversations with residents in Southeast Seminole Heights, North Hyde Park, West Tampa, Forest Hills, and Sulphur Springs. Teams planned to explain ways residents can reduce infection risk, describe dengue symptoms, and share guidance on what to do if symptoms appear. The neighborhood visits are part of a continuing citywide effort rather than a one-day response, linking public education with outdoor-property cleanup and mosquito-breeding prevention.

Tampa’s Neighborhood Enhancement Department, commonly known as Code Enforcement, has also intensified work on the physical conditions that allow mosquitoes to breed. Over the previous three months, crews removed 23 tons of illegally dumped tires that could collect rainwater. The department was monitoring 85 locations, and two had received citations. Staff were also working with business owners to remove items on commercial properties that can hold water and attract mosquitoes. For homeowners and property managers, the announcement reinforces the importance of draining standing water and removing water-holding debris from yards and outdoor areas after rain. The City’s response combines neighborhood outreach, tire removal, property monitoring, and enforcement as the dengue outbreak continues.