South Florida

What makes Miami sick? How insects, heat and infections have affected our health

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

Health risks in Miami are increasingly shaped by environmental factors, including extreme heat, mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory infections.

Record heat in Florida in 2024 spurred rising cases of heat-related illnesses, particularly impacting outdoor workers and vulnerable populations. Flooding and standing water have amplified mosquito activity, escalating health concerns such as dengue outbreaks, which are worsening with climate change.

Additionally, an uptick in "walking pneumonia" cases highlights the role of respiratory pathogens in seasonal health threats.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

A worker finishes spraying the grass with a pesticide to kill floodwater larvae during a media event at Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control unit in Doral, FL on June 17, 2024. By Michelle Marchante

NO. 1: HOW DO YOU STOP A MOSQUITO INVASION IN MIAMI AFTER THE RAINS AND FLOODS? TAKE A LOOK

Mosquitoes can spread disease and just be annoying. | Published June 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

The Florida Department of Health issued a state-wide mosquito-borne illness alert after six people contracted malaria in Sarasota. By James Gathany

NO. 2: ARE YOU AT RISK FOR DENGUE? ARE MIAMI MOSQUITOES A DANGER? HERE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS

Dengue case counts in Florida are more than twice what they were this time last year, according to Health Department data. | Published July 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Adlai Coleman

Outdoor worker at Casaplanta Garden Center, Otty Bustos, takes a water break on Friday, July 5, 2024 in Kendale Lakes, Fla. By Sophia Bolivar

NO. 3: FLORIDA HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN THE NATION, NEW REPORT FINDS

“Without common-sense workplace protections, heat-related illness, coupled with Florida’s high uninsured rate, will spell trouble for a growing number of residents” | Published July 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi

The best way to prevent sickness during this year’s “tripledemic” is to stay up-to-date on vaccine recommendations, the CDC says.

NO. 4: ‘WALKING PNEUMONIA’ IS ON THE RISE. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INFECTIONS IN MIAMI

"It’s an infection that can be treated and with a good response." | Published November 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.