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Locally Acquired Zika Case Confirmed in Palm Beach County

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in South Florida, transmits zika.
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The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in South Florida, transmits zika.

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 acquiredZikacases 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.

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Kate Stein can't quite explain what attracts her to South Florida. It's more than just the warm weather (although this Wisconsin native and Northwestern University graduate definitely appreciates the South Florida sunshine). It has a lot to do with being able to travel from the Everglades to Little Havana to Brickell without turning off 8th Street. It's also related to Stein's fantastic coworkers, whom she first got to know during a winter 2016 internship.Officially, Stein is WLRN's environment, data and transportation journalist. Privately, she uses her job as an excuse to rove around South Florida searching for stories à la Carl Hiaasen and Edna Buchanan. Regardless, Stein speaks Spanish and is always thrilled to run, explore and read.