Florida Health Officials Try To Find Out Where 4 People Were Exposed To Zika
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Florida health officials say they are trying to determine where a number of Miami-Dade county residents were infected with the Zika virus - linked to severe birth defects.
On Monday, Florida Department of Health announced three locally acquired cases were under investigation to find out where exposure occurred. Those individuals had traveled to both Miami-Dade County and countries in which Zika was being transmitted.
Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting Yourself
A similar investigation is underway for a non-Florida resident that got the virus but officials could not determine where he or she was exposed. That person had also traveled to Miami-Dade County.
The department also announced six other locally acquired cases but determined they had been exposed in Miami Beach.
At last check, there were 133 non-travel related cases and 716 travel-related cases in Florida. Of those cases, 99 pregnant women had the virus.
Over the weekend, a new batch of Zika-carrying mosquitoes had tested positive in a small area of Miami Beach where five other samples had previously tested positive.
Meantime, the Department of Health continues to conduct door-to-door outreach and test the mosquitoes in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. They are also providing free Zika testing and risk assessment to pregnant women in all Florida counties.
Residents are also being asked to do their part by removing any standing water which could become a breeding haven for mosquitoes that could carry and spread the virus. Also, for those going outdoors, make sure to use mosquito repellant.
So far, the local transmission zones are the following:
- Miami Beach Area - 28th Street to the north, 8th Street to the south, intercoastal water to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.
