Zika Virus Update: New Florida Case Locally Transmitted In Pinellas County

A new case of locally transmitted Zika virus has surfaced in a new Florida county, which means that domestic cases of the virus could be steadily spreading.

On Tuesday, Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott announced that a locally transmitted case of the virus had been confirmed in Pinellas County, Fla. in the Tampa Bay area.

The Associated Press reported that in total, five new cases of locally-transmitted Zika have been confirmed. Four of the confirmed cases have been traced to Aedes Agypti mosquitos from Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. A lone case was reported in the Tampa Bay region.

It was confirmed that the individual had not traveled abroad recently, raising suspicion about local cases in new Florida counties. Officials are looking into whether or not the Pinellas County resident contracted the virus from a neighboring county.

Florida Department of Health officials declined to offer what part of the county, or when the case was first discovered, reported The Tampa Bay Times.

Scott has confirmed that, as of now, there are two areas in Miami Dade County that have seen Zika spread locally among mosquitos, according to the local outlet.

“While this investigation is ongoing, DOH still believes that ongoing active transmissions are only occurring in the two previously identified areas in Wynwood and Miami Beach,” Scott said in a statement.

It was also reported that Scott allocated $31 million in emergency funds to aid in the response to the virus and its prevention. $5 million of those funds would be set aside for Miami Dade County.

The CDC has also reported Zika cases in Texas and new cases in New York, although none have been linked to non-travel transmission.

As of Aug. 15, The Miami Herald reported that 30 cases of the infection were reported from local mosquitos in Miami Dade County alone.