Palm Beach County has its first case of locally acquired Zika, according to a press release issued Monday afternoon by Gov. Rick Scott's office.
The patient recently traveled to Miami-Dade County, but the Department of Health is investigating to determine the source of the infection. DOH experts think Zika still is being transmitted only in the one-square-mile area in north Miami-Dade County, the release said.
The case is the first locally transmitted case confirmed north of Broward County. It brings Florida's total of locally acquired Zika cases to 17. Since the first locally acquired case of Zika was confirmed on July 29, state and local authorities have implemented mosquito-control measures including aerial spraying, which took place on Thursday and Sunday.
Gov. Rick Scott said in the release that he's planning to meet with state and local education officials to discuss Zika education and prevention measures for students from pre-K to college. Those measures will likely include the distribution of mosquito repellent, Zika awareness and prevention posters, a Zika "teacher toolkit" with resources to teach about the virus, and Zika identification training for school nurses and staff.
