Health officials confirm Zika virus in Florida

Four individuals in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have been infected with the Zika virus by local mosquitoes, Florida health officials said Friday. This is the first known case of the virus being transmitted by mosquitos in the United States.

Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement that the four cases involve three men and one woman. He did not indicate whether the woman was pregnant.

“While no mosquitoes have tested positive for the Zika virus,” Mr. Scott told the New York Times, the Health Department “is aggressively testing people in this area to ensure there are no other cases. If you live in this area and want to be tested, I urge you to contact the county health department.”

According to the Boston Globe, Zika prevention kits are being distributed in the affected areas, which include Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, an emerging arts district.

Scott is urging people who live in the area and want to be tested for Zika to contact their local health department. He further urged residents to take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites, including “eliminating standing water and wearing insect repellent”.

Health officials had predicted that small pockets along the Gulf Coast would be the first to see the virus take up residence in mainland mosquito populations. Numerous doctors are comparing the Zika outbreak pattern to be similar to dengue fever.

The Florida Department of Health has urged residents to protect themselves by draining any places that could collect standing water inside or outside their homes. They further advised people to wear protective clothing, including long pants and long sleeves, and to use EPA-approved insect repellents and mosquito netting.

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