Zika threat grows as Florida officials investigate a SECOND patient who has ‘contracted the virus despite not traveling abroad’
If confirmed, Florida infections would mark arrival of homegrown virus
All Zika cases in Florida so far involved people who have travelled abroad
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus and can be spread by mosquito bites or sex and causes birth defects
As of mid-July, there have been 1,306 cases of Zika in the United States
TED THORNHILL
DailyMail.com
22 July 2016
A second case of Zika virus possibly acquired locally is being investigated in Florida, just days after the first potential case was announced in Miami, officials said Thursday.
Until now, there have been hundreds of cases of Zika virus in Florida but all involved people who were infected while traveling to areas where the mosquito-borne virus is spreading.
If confirmed, the Florida infections would mark the arrival of the homegrown virus on the US continent for the first time.
Zika can be spread by mosquito bites or by sexual contact, and can cause birth defects if women are infected while pregnant.
‘The Florida Department of Health announced that it is conducting an epidemiological investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Broward County,’ said a statement, referring to the county just north of Miami, which includes Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
Health officials are working with ‘mosquito control to ensure trapping, reduction and prevention activities are conducted in the area of investigation’, the department added.
The department urged people living in the area and visiting to respond to requests for blood and urine samples.
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