TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa mother Kayla Wiseman has been watching the spread of the Zika virus like a hawk for months and this week, she received the news she has been dreading.
“Living in Florida, you can’t go anywhere without getting bit by a mosquito. Florida always seems like it is the first state that gets everything and unfortunately, we got this. It is very scary and very concerning,” said Wiseman.
Right now, scientists and health officials are investigating what could be the first case of Zika spread by mosquitoes in the United States, just a few hours south of Tampa in Miami-Dade County.
Until now, all confirmed cases were brought back by travelers or transmitted sexually.
Dr. Beata Casanas of Tampa General Hospital’s Infectious Disease Department had also been bracing for the news.
“We have been anticipating such cases it’s was inevitable – only a matter of time before we see locally transmitted case of Zika,” said Dr. Casanas.
This could just be the beginning. The type of mosquito know to carry the Zika virus is found in Florida and other southern states.
Dr. Carlos Fernandes with Hillsborough County Mosquito Control tells News Channel 8 the County isn’t really going to do things differently with mosquito control as a result of this particular case, but they are continuing to aggressively fight mosquitoes by setting additional traps throughout the county, aerial spraying, additional truck spraying, distributing mosquito fish and training additional staff.RELATED
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