Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Spreading After South Florida Bite
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami) — Health officials confirmed the first two locally acquired cases of the chikungunya virus in South Florida.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday one of the cases is from Miami-Dade County and another is in Palm Beach County.
Dozens of cases have been reported throughout Florida but those were contracted during travel to the Caribbean.
READ: Health Dept. Confirms New Cases Of Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus
This means the mosquito may have bitten a person who had chikungunya and then spread the virus by biting another person, according to the DOH.
Chikungunya is not contagious from person -to -person and is typically not life threatening and may resolve on its own, according to the department.
They continue to monitor signs of local cases but are warning locals to take precaution.
"We encourage everyone to take precautions against mosquitoes to prevent chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases by draining standing water, covering your skin with clothing and repellent and covering doors and windows with screens," said said Dr. Anna Likos, State Epidemiologist and Disease Control and Health Protection Director.
Click here for more information on chikungunya.
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