Miami-Dade mosquitoes test positive for Zika

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that it has detected Zika in one mosquito sample from the same small area in Miami Beach, where seven other samples had previously tested positive for Zika. All samples have consisted of Aedes aeqypti mosquitoes and are from an area where increased trapping and intensified mosquito control measures have already been underway since the Florida Department of Health determined local transmission had occurred. The positive sample announced today was from a trap located at 1236 Drexel Ave. in Miami Beach. Two additional mosquito samples collected from the same site have tested negative since this find.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has tested more than 5,400 mosquito samples, consisting of more than 70,000 mosquitoes, since May, and these eight samples are the only ones to test positive.

The positive mosquito pool announced today was collected in Miami Beach within the current zone that has been treated for local transmission. Scientists with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services tested the sample at the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Kissimmee.

A summary of the total positive mosquito samples to date is as follows:

• Oct. 18, 2016: One mosquito sample from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.
• Oct. 4, 2016: One mosquito sample, consisting of only one mosquito, from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.
• Oct. 1, 2016: One mosquito sample from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.
• Sept. 16, 2016: One mosquito sample from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.
• Sept. 9, 2016: One mosquito sample from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.
• Sept. 1, 2016: Three mosquito samples from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika.

Florida's proactive efforts, which are conducted by local mosquito control programs and supported by the expertise provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, include: eliminating larval habitats by emptying standing water, treating water-holding containers with long-lasting larvicide, providing outdoor residual and spatial insecticide treatments to reduce adult vectors, and conducting adult mosquito surveillance to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Miami-Dade County's Mosquito Control team will continue to conduct inspections to reduce mosquito breeding and perform spray treatments as necessary in a minimum of 200-yard radius around the trap location.

Floridians can help prevent the spread of Zika by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds by draining standing water around their homes, businesses and communities.

On February 3, 2016, the Florida Surgeon General declared a public health emergency in regards to the Zika virus. Floridians can assist in Zika-related response efforts by draining standing water and allowing officials who are conducting mosquito control efforts to access their property.

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam issued a mosquito declaration on July 29 when local transmission first occurred in Florida and has since extended the declaration. Access a copy of the mosquito declaration [  819.05 KB ].

For more information on the Zika virus, visit the Florida Department of Health's website at FloridaHealth.gov.

This story originally appeared on the Fresh From Florida website, here.

Tags: Zika