The Zika virus continues to intensify in the Miami-Dade region, with two new cases confirmed Monday.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed the cases Monday, bringing total number of local infections from mosquito bites in Florida to 30.
DOH is currently investigating four areas in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties where local transmissions of Zika may have occurred -- three locations in Miami-Dade and one in Palm Beach, but active transmissions seem to only be contained to a specific part of Miami-Dade.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has tested more than 25,000 mosquitos for Zika in Florida to pin down the virus, but the virus has been elusive and none of the mosquitos have come back positive.
State officials say they still believe local transmissions are only occurring in a very small part of the downtown Miami area in the Wynwood region, which is popular among tourists for its graffiti and mural-laden walls and for being one of the largest spots for art galleries in the city.
Gov. Rick Scott said the state was continuing to work with local officials to give them the resources needed to prepare and fight the Zika virus.
“I have stayed in constant communication with Mayor Carlos Gimenez of Miami-Dade County to ensure the county has all of the resources they need,” said Scott.
The DOH has coordinated with mosquito control experts from around the state to guide local counties on how to control mosquitos in the area.
On Monday, the department sent in additional commercial pest control companies to assist with mosquito control efforts in Miami-Dade County. Several blocks of the Wynwood area have already been cleared.
Last week, Mayor Gimenez sent Scott a letter requesting $6 million in reimbursement from the state for spending excess to combat the virus.
Miami-Dade has, Gimenez wrote, implemented all the protocols as directed by the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control to prepare for a possible outbreak of the virus, but the overall cost to comply with the protocols ended up being more than Miami-Dade had anticipated.
“As you know, since your Emergency Declaration made in February...Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control Section has been aggressive with its proactive and responsive mosquito control efforts,” Gimenez wrote to the governor.
The Zika virus is not deadly, but produces symptoms similar to Dengue fever. The virus is especially problematic for pregnant women, however, as it can cause birth defects and microcephaly in fetuses.
So far, the state has been working with pest control companies to work on combating the virus, but more aggressive options have been presented as well. A recent article from The Guardian discussed the possibility of using genetically-modified mosquitoes to fight against Zika.
Oxitec, a British insect-control firm, would release genetically-modified mosquitoes if approved by the Mosquito Control Board. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration already approved the release of the GM mosquitoes in Monroe County earlier this month. Many citizens have protested the release of the mosquitoes.
There were 369 confirmed cases of Zika in Florida as of Friday.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
