FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health is investigating a possible non-travel-related case of the Zika virus, the second such case to appear in South Florida this week.
Florida health officials said Thursday the most recent case was discovered in Broward County. They are also investigating a possible case in Miami-Dade County.
Health officials have begun trapping and testing mosquitoes in Miami-Dade County in an effort to confirm whether the virus was transmitted sexually or through mosquito bites. Friday morning, Chalmers Vasquez with Mosquito Control Operations, said all mosquitoes tested so far have not had Zika.
"We are very optimistic if this case is declared -- whatever result it is, it is not going to get out of hand," Vasquez said. "We are under control (and) the mosquito population is down in the area."
Health officials have not ruled out that the case in Miami-Dade County might have been sexually transmitted.
As of Thursday, there have been 288 Zika cases reported in Florida that are travel-related and do not involve pregnant women. There are 46 pregnant women who have contracted the virus. None have contracted the virus locally.
