Local leaders and health officials want South Floridians to continue to "fight the bite" after confirmation of mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus in the community, as local officials announced six new non-travel related cases linked to Miami Beach Friday.
A City of Miami Beach spokesperson confirmed the new cases, and Commissioner Michael Grieco wrote on Facebook that Florida's Department of Health will announce the confirmation.
Earlier this week, health workers found the Zika-infected mosquitoes in Miami Beach and believe they may have bred in the popular tropical plants known as bromeliads. They say the Zika-positive mosquitoes turned up in a trap at the city's botanical garden.
Bromeliads are pervasive in South Florida - you see them everywhere - but they do collect water and they can become a breeding ground for insects. Homeowners love bromeliads because they're easy to grow and they look great.
But officials want homeowners to consider removing them, draining them after every rain or flushing them. Another way to keep mosquitoes away is to sprinkle the bromeliads with a product called Mosquito Bits, which will last about two weeks.
In the meantime, the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County are doing what they can to reduce the mosquito population. South Florida has two Zika hot zones, in Wynwood and Miami Beach.
Now Gov. Rick Scott announced he's ordering aerial spraying of the Zika zone in Miami Beach. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine said the governor did not inform or consult with the city about aerial spraying.
Local
"The City of Miami Beach, our administration, the county, is not getting information," Levine said. "A little disappointed the governor came out with his press release, of course he didn't talk to myself or [Miami-Dade] Mayor [Carlos] Gimenez, he just kind of, a little governing by press release and that's a shame because we want to continue the efforts that we have."
Meanwhile, Mosquito Control will be spraying four areas in Broward Saturday between 6 a.m. and noon. The spraying will be done in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Davie and Hallandale Beach.
