On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health announced it is conducting an epidemiological investigation in collaboration with the CDC into a possible non-travel related case of Zika in Miami-Dade County.
If they find this case of Zika was acquired via mosquito bite, it would be the first evidence Zika has infiltrated the mosquito population in the continental U.S. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary culprit in the Zika outbreak that has disseminated across Latin America.
Zika can also be spread sexually and through the exchange of blood. The CDC is currently investigating a peculiar case of transmission in Utah where a family contact of the first Zika-related death in the U.S. contracted Zika in an unknown mode.
As of July 7, there have been 1,306 Zika cases reported in the United States. Among them, 346 are or have been pregnant women.
The Florida health department also announced Zika prevention kits for pregnant women and mosquito repellent are being made available for pickup at the Miami-Dade Health Department and will be distributed in the area under investigation. Mosquito control and other preventative actions have been taken in the area.
More articles on the Zika virus:
Brazil launches app for Olympians to self-monitor, report Zika
First ever female-to-male sexual Zika transmission reported in NYC
First case of Zika-related microcephaly in Texas confirmed