NBC: Florida Health Officials May Have a Second Non-Travel-Related Case of Zika

By  //  July 23, 2016

may have found a second species of mosquito

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EDITOR’S NOTE: All of the 1,404 cases of Zika in the continental United States previously reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been travel related.

However, small, local outbreaks of Zika virus are fully expected in southern states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas, which are home to the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that most commonly transmit the virus.

This week health officials in Florida identified what appears to be the first locally transmitted Zika virus infection, and NBC News reports below that a second possible South Florida case of locally spread Zika has been diagnosed. There is also unpublished evidence in Brazil that suggests there may be a possible second mosquito species that can transmit the virus. 

— Dr. Jim Palermo, Editor-in-Chief

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This map shows the distribution of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the United States. Health officials expect that there will be small, local outbreaks of Zika virus, especially in southern states from Texas to Florida where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit the virus, are most prevalent. (Wikipedia image)

NBC NEWS — Florida health officials said they were investigating a second possible case of Zika spread locally, and Brazilian scientists said they feared they may have found a second species of mosquito can transmit the virus.

The two Florida cases — one in Miami-Dade county and another in Broward county — both appear to have no connections to travel to Zika-affected areas, and neither appears to have had sexual contact with a Zika-infected patient, but Florida officials are still checking both possibilities.

They’re also looking for mosquitoes infected with Zika near both homes, and testing people in both areas to see if anyone else may have been infected with Zika and not know it.

CLICK HERE to read the complete story on NBCNews.com.

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