Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricanes Helene or Milton can get help applying for recovery assistance at two pop-up service centers this month.

The city canvassed urged residents to dump out any standing water, which is how the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes responsible for the virus breed. Most of the breeding spots are abandoned tires.

Health officials have cautioned the mosquito-borne illness doesn't respect county boundaries. In a region connected by daily commuting, infected people can spread it beyond the original hotspots.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," a Hillsborough County resident and vacation rental property manager express different opinions.

Information from state health departments and medical journals suggests the Florida outbreak marks the most cases in a calendar year for any state since at least the 1940s.

Hillsborough County has reported 223 cases this year, according to the state's most recent weekly data update. A nearby county has sent helicopters and crews to help increase aerial pesticide spraying.

Hillsborough added 36 cases, per the latest state report on mosquito-borne illnesses, while Pasco and Pinellas officials went into a proactive mode while their counts remain low.

When the Tampa Bay Rays begin work on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus, classes will move to a temporary hub called The Nest.

ZooTampa is looking to improve wildlife conservation efforts and guest experiences after receiving $75 million in CIT funds.

The total collected from the $100 citations from July 2025 through June 2026 amounted to around $10.3 million.

Citing privacy issues, an official said the health department "is unable to provide additional details." However, the investigation occurs after Hillsborough was described as an "epicenter" of an outbreak.

The county reported 59 of the state's 73 cases this year as of the latest weekly update from Aug. 23-29. That 29 more than the previous update. There are three important steps for prevention.