Miami Beach Zika fears

Miami Beach now has cases of Zika infection that appear to have been locally transmitted, United States media reported yesterday, suggesting that the mosquito- borne virus i s spreading in Florida.

The Miami Herald reported a new zone of Zika transmission had been identified in the resort city, citing unnamed local health sources.

The New York Times also reported “a cluster” of Zika cases most likely transmitted by local mosquitoes in Miami Beach, citing an unnamed health official.

The report described “a handful of cases” in which Zika likely spread among people in close proximity to each other. It added that an official announcement could come by today.

Last month, Florida announced its first cases of local Zika transmission in Miami, in a 2.5sq km section of the arts neighbourhood of Wynwood, north of downtown. Florida now has 35 cases of local Zika transmission. Twenty- five of those cases have been traced to Wynwood.

Contacted by AFP, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health declined to comment on the Miami Beach reports.

She said investigations were ongoing in “areas in Miami- Dade and Palm Beach Counties where local transmissions of Zika may have occurred”.

The Zika virus has been linked to more than 1700 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. The potentially severe birth defect can cause infants to be born with undersized heads and lead to developmental problems.