Miami Beach Garden With Zika Mosquitoes Looking For Bug-Repelling Plants
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MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) — Officials with the Miami Beach Botanical Garden say they're working to rid the property of mosquitoes that could spread the Zika virus.
State officials identified the garden Sept. 1 as one out of four areas within South Beach where the virus was isolated in mosquito samples.
In a statement Saturday, Executive Director Sandy Shapiro said the garden cooperated with the city's order to remove all its bromeliads, even though the plants were treated regularly with a pesticide that kills mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes can breed in water trapped in bromeliads' cylindrical centers.
Shapiro said some flower beds now look bare, and the garden wants to fill them with plants that repel mosquitoes.
No information has been released about three other Miami Beach locations where mosquitoes tested positive for Zika.
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