Dengue is an emerging infectious disease of significant public health concern in the Americas.
Recent outbreaks of dengue have occurred in the Carribean and Central America, including Cuba and the Bahamas which are within 100 miles of Florida's shores. This expansion of dengue activity and the presence of the appropriate mosquito vectors appears to increase the likelihood of reemergence of dengue in Florida. In response to this public health threat, a laboratory-based active surveillance program for recent dengue infections was implemented. Educational materials were distributed to county health departments and state laboratory capabilities were enhanced to include testing for IgM antibodies to dengue. Collaborations were also established with commercial clinical laboratories to offer dengue testing at no cost.