Resolution No. 26-76 – Dengue Fever State of Local Emergency

WHEREAS, Dengue is a severe viral illness transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. In Florida, Aedes aegypti is the primary mosquito associated with Dengue transmission. Flu-like symptoms can be expected, to include fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, nausea, and vomiting. While most people recover within one to two weeks, severe Dengue can result in hemorrhagic bleeding, hospitalization, and other potentially life threatening complications due to other underlying health conditions; and

WHEREAS, there are currently 143 confirmed Dengue Fever cases across the tri-county region: 134 in Hillsborough County, 7 in Pinellas County, and 2 in Pasco County. Pinellas County Public Works (PCPW) Mosquito Control and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) continue to investigate 21 potential cases, including several commercial exposures that remain pending confirmation and jurisdictional assignment. The exposure and symptom timeline is anywhere from 3 to 14 days; and

WHEREAS, neighboring Hillsborough County has one confirmed death from Dengue Fever and has been recognized as the epicenter of the Dengue outbreak; and

WHEREAS, in response to the unusual increase in locally acquired Dengue Fever infections and West Nile viral activity, the Florida Department of Health issued a Mosquito Borne Illness Advisory on August 11, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Mosquito borne illnesses present a threat to public health, and cases have been identified in Pinellas County; and

WHEREAS, under current circumstances, Pinellas County recommends residents, dump out any standing water around their property, dress in light-colored, long-sleeved clothing with closed-toed shoes when outside, and defend themselves using an EPA-registered insect repellant; and

WHEREAS, Pinellas County finds it necessary to declare a local State of Emergency as a proactive and preventative step in the event additional cases are diagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Section 252.38(3)(b)5, Florida Statutes, provides authority for a political subdivision such as Pinellas County to declare a state of local emergency and to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required of political subdivisions by law
pertaining to:

  1. Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community.
  2. Entering into contracts.
  3. Incurring obligations.
  4. Employment of permanent and temporary workers.
  5. Utilization of volunteer workers.
  6. Rental of equipment.
  7. Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials, and facilities.
  8. Appropriation and expenditures of public funds; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to §252.38(1), Florida Statutes, and Pinellas County Charter section 2.04 (k), the County has jurisdictional authority over the entire county for emergency management purposes;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND DECLARED by the Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas County, Florida, this 24th day of September 2026:

  1. That in light of the foregoing conditions and the serious threat to the residents of Pinellas County posed by Mosquito Borne Illnesses, the Board of County Commissioners finds that a factual basis exists for this declaration and hereby exercises its authority and waives the procedures and formalities required by law of a political subdivision, as provided in Section 252.38(3)(b)5, Florida Statutes, by declaring a state of local emergency; and
  2. That the state of local emergency shall exist as of 3:52 P.M. on this 24th day of September 2026, for all territory within the legal boundaries of Pinellas County. All unincorporated and incorporated areas shall be embraced by the provisions of this
    Resolution; and
  3. That all provisions of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) relating to this type of event shall be implemented; and
  4. That the County Administrator, or designee as set out in the most current order of succession established by the County Administrator or defined in an Order issued pursuant hereto, is designated as the Official Authority for the purposes of exercising all emergency responsibilities as provided in the Florida Statutes and the Pinellas County Code, and is authorized to issue any necessary order to protect the health safety and welfare of the community; and
  5. Pursuant to Pinellas County Code Section 58-417, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, as governing body of the mosquito control district of Pinellas County, Florida, shall have the power to take all necessary and proper steps for the extermination of mosquitoes within Pinellas County, Florida, subject to the paramount control of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and to abate as nuisances all stagnant water and other breeding places for mosquitoes, and to enter upon lands during daylight hours, whether public or private, in said county, for the purpose of inspection and examination of the same, and to remove therefrom, without notice, stagnant water or other breeding places for mosquitoes; and
  6. That, in accordance with Section 252.38(2), Florida Statutes, actions of the several municipalities within Pinellas County must be coordinated with County Emergency Management and not conflict with any order of the Official Authority; and
  7. That residents of Pinellas County are urged to closely adhere to the guidance issued by governmental authorities issuing public health advisories and recommendations and to pay close attention to the news media for information and news regarding public health and safety and orders pertaining thereto; and
  8. That the Board of County Commissioners hereby delegates authority to the County Administrator for the duration of this emergency declaration to appropriate funds from reserves as necessary to support emergency operations and response in a timely manner, and further, to suspend budgetary controls to the extent necessary to accomplish this purpose. The aforementioned authority is subject to after-the-fact ratification of the Board.
  9. The County Administrator is expressly delegated the authority to extend the declaration of state of local emergency, as many times as necessary, consistent with Florida Statute Section 252.38. This delegation of authority does not require further action by the Board, and is granted whether or not a quorum of the board is able to meet; any procedures set out in the Pinellas County Code that may be interpreted to be in conflict with this grant of authority are hereby waived.

Commissioner Scott offered the foregoing Resolution and moved its adoption, which was seconded by Commissioner Flowers and
upon roll call the vote was:

AYES: Eggers, Latvala, Flowers, Nowicki, Peters, Scherer, and Scott.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: None.
PCAO 590298

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