© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Batch Of Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes Found In Miami Beach

Department of Health

More Zika-car rying mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach, this time in a new neighborhood.

The Florida Department of Agriculture said Saturday that it's the sixth time Zika-bearing mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach. It was the first capture of Zika-carrying mosquitoes in two weeks.

Zika can cause severe brain-related birth defects, including disastrously small heads, in pregnant women who become infected. The same mosquito species that spreads Zika also transmits dengue fever.

The agriculture department says it has tested more than 4,000 mosquito samples since May and only these six have contained Zika. All have been in Miami Beach and captured since Sept. 1.

Copyright 2016 Health News Florida

You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.