Fears grow that American moquitos are spreading Zika

FLORIDA health officials are investigating two more mysterious cases of the Zika virus that do not appear to be related to travel, bringing the total to four and raising the possibility of local transmission in the continental United States.

The cases have raised the possibility that mosquitos in the US have begun to spread the virus, although officials say they are still looking into the cases and have not come to a conclusion.

The four cases have occurred in the adjoining Florida counties of Miami-Dade and Broward.

“This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response,” health officials said in a statement.

The virus can be spread by infected mosquitos or sexual contact. So far, the 1,400 infections reported in the US have been linked to travel to countries with Zika outbreaks in Latin America or the Caribbean.

Zika causes only a mild illness in most people. However scientists recently confirmed that infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.

To confirm whether Zika is being transmitted locally, epidemiologists must survey households and test neighbours within a 150 yard radius around the residence of the person who has Zika – which constitutes the flying range of the mosquitos that carry the virus.

Heath department officials said that investigations into the new cases started yesterday. The state is urging residents and visitors to be test- ed by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help experts determine the number of people affected.

In addition to the possible cases of non-travel related transmission, Florida yesterday reported 328 travel-re- lated cases of Zika. The state is currently monitoring 53 pregnant women who had Zika infections.

Zika was first identified in Africa in 1947. It has spread significantly across the world since the first reported case in Brazil in 2015.