Miami-Dade, Broward Prep For Possible Local Zika Cases
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- Florida's Department of Health has not ruled out sexual transmission or travel as the source of a Miami-area woman's Zika infection.
Meantime, they are waiting on results to find out whether mosquitoes collected in South Florida test positive for the Zika virus.
That could help determine whether a local woman is the first person infected directly by a mosquito bite on the U.S. mainland.
Related: Florida DOH Tests Locals, Mosquitoes For Non-Travel Zika Virus
Fogging trucks drove through the patient's neighborhood Thursday morning.
Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control Operations Manager Chalmers Vasquez said inspectors are trying to get into every backyard to spray and eliminate breeding sites.
Health officials said lab tests confirmed the patient's infection earlier this week.
Related: CDC Says Zika Definitely Causes Severe Birth Defects
Miami-Dade County has the most confirmed Zika infections in Florida, but all have involved international travel.
Vasquez says no mosquitoes collected in the county so far have tested positive for Zika.
A team from Broward Mosquito Control was spraying to stop the spread of mosquitoes that could possibly be carrying the virus.
With marching orders from the Florida Health Department, they were going door-to-door a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood just off downtown warning residents about the risk and checking for standing water.
There may be one locally-acquired case in Miami-Dade County, meaning Broward County would be second in line to possibly get a locally acquired case.
"It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when we're going to get a local case. What we're really preparing for is how we're going to handle when we have one of these non-travel related case," said Anh ton with Broward Mosquito Control.
But there's a lot of confusion.
The state health department went public with the Miami-Dade information Tuesday - four days after it surfaced and told everyone the Zika prevention kits and repellant would be available for pickup at the Miami-Dade Department of Health. No such kits are available.
This means checking everything from your rain gutter to potted plants is important.
Health experts say we can all do our part in preventing the spread starting in our own homes. Click here for tips on how to prevent the spread of Zika or click here for more information on the Zika virus.
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