Zika Virus: 4 Possible Non-Travel-Related Cases In Florida
MIAMI - Gov. Rick Scott said Florida is the first state with a locally acquired case of the Zika virus.
Scott said Friday that the Florida Department of Health has concluded that four cases of the Zika virus likely came from mosquitoes in the Miami area.
The governor said no mosquitoes in the state have tested positive for Zika, but he said one woman and three men in Miami-Dade and Broward counties likely contracted the virus through mosquito bites.
He said state health officials believe the infections occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami.
The area of concentration is in Wynwood, between Northwest Fifth Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest 38th Street and Northwest 20th Street.
"If you live in this area and want to be tested, I urge you to contact the county health department, which stands ready to assist you," Scott said during a news conference in Orlando.
Scott"s announcement comes one day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked all blood banks in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to stop collecting blood because of increasing fears of spreading the Zika virus.
OneBlood, a nonprofit blood collection agency, said Friday it has immediately begun testing for the Zika virus. If testing reveals that any blood is reactive for the Zika virus, OneBlood will quarantine the blood, notify the donor and alert state and federal health officials.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he is committed to keeping residents safe from the Zika virus.
"Because our mosquito control efforts have been successful in the past, I am confident that Miami-Dade County is prepared to fight this, just like we -- together as a community -- have fought against West Nile, dengue fever and Chikungunya," Gimenez said.
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Source: http://www.local10.com/health/zika-virus/gov-rick-scott-zika-virus-locally-acquired-in-florida
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