Florida governor: '4 people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite'

An aedes aegypti mosquitoes is seen in The Gorgas Memorial institute for Health Studies laboratory as they conduct a research on preventing the spread of the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases in Panama City February 4, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

(An aedes aegypti mosquito.Thomson Reuters)

Florida Governor Rick Scott said Friday that the state is looking at what's likely the first four cases of mosquito-transmitted Zika.

The two cases of Zika in Miami-Dade County and two in Broward County were not related to travel, which is unlike what most cases in the US have been up until this point.

"We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite," Scott said in a statement. "All four of these people live in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and the Florida Department of Health believes that active transmissions of this virus could be occurring in one small area in Miami. While no mosquitoes have tested positive for the Zika virus, DOH is aggressively testing people in this area to ensure there are no other cases."

"This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response," the department said in a release. "The investigations into the new cases will begin today and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases. The department will share more details as they become available."

Zika, which is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes, has been spreading around the Americas over the past year. This would be the first time local transmission by mosquitoes has been reported in the US. Only about 20% of people who are infected with Zika ever show symptoms, which most commonly include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

Here's a map of all the places Zika has spread locally so far:

BI Graphic_Zika Virus Map And List (4)

(Dragan Radovanovic/Business Insider)

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