Florida identifies Miami neighborhood as new Zika zone

Florida health officials have identified another Miami neighborhood where mosquitoes have spread the Zika virus to people.

Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced Thursday that five people have been infected with Zika in a 1-square-mile area of the city just north of the Little Haiti neighborhood.

Four of the cases were previously announced by Florida’s Department of Health as being under investigation, according to the statement. The fifth case was confirmed Thursday. Scott’s office says that confirms federal criteria for identifying a new zone of transmission.

A large portion of Miami Beach remains an active Zika infection zone. Health officials said last month that another transmission zone in Miami’s Wynwood district had been cleared.

Zika infections have been reported in more than 1,020 people in Florida. Most caught it while traveling outside the U.S., but 155 cases are not travel-related.

ALSO

With $1.1 billion in new funding, U.S. health officials outline plan for fighting Zika

Zika didn’t drive her from Miami Beach — but questions about the pesticide being used to stop it did

Researchers strengthen link between Zika and microcephaly