This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Local Zika transmission within Florida extends to Pinellas County

The Florida Department of Health is investigating a new locally transmitted Zika virus case in Pinellas County, and it reported more contained activity within the previously affected Wynwood area of Miami-Dade County, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced today.

Five nontravel-related cases, one in Pinellas County, and the others in Wynwood are being investigated, according to a press release from the state’s Department of Health (DOH). Earlier this month, the CDC issued advisories to pregnant women to avoid Wynwood, an area north of downtown Miami. The DOH believes the affected area in Wynwood has been contained to about 0.5-square mile.

“As we’ve seen in Wynwood, our aggressive mosquito control and public education efforts are working, which is why DOH was able to clear a significant area in Wynwood today, bringing the total cleared area to 76 blocks,” Scott said.

Along with Wynwood, Zika cases have been reported in Miami Beach, with the total number of statewide locally transmitted cases reported to be 42.

As it did in Miami-Dade County, the DOH has begun door-to-door outreach, mosquito abatement and sampling in Pinellas County.

“The DOH and Pinellas County Mosquito Control are already working together and have begun aggressive spraying and mosquito abatement efforts,” Scott said. “Any pregnant woman who would like to receive a free Zika test or a Zika prevention kit should contact the Florida DOH in Pinellas County. We remain fully committed to ensuring that every county has all of the resources they need to combat this virus and stand ready to assist residents and visitors in the impacted communities.”

Disclosure: Scott is the governor of Florida.