Florida announces Zika is likely spreading by mosquitoes in the continental U.S.

Florida officials on Friday announced the first local spread of Zika virus through infected mosquitoes in the continental United States.

Gov. Rick Scott made the announcement during a press conference Friday after a health department investigation into four suspected cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. He said transmission was confined to a small neighborhood just north of Miami.

“We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite," he said. "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."

Scott said state officials continue to "put every resource available into fighting the spread of Zika in our state," adding that Florida as been preparing for this type of situation for months, much in the way it prepares for hurricanes.

The announcement has been expected since officials revealed a week ago that they were investigating case of non-travel-related infection. They subsequently acknowledged an additional case in Miami-Dade County and two more suspect cases in neighboring Broward County. However, no mosquitoes have yet tested positive for the virus.

Florida already has 383 travel-related Zika cases, more than any other southern state. Of those, 55 involve pregnant women. Miami-Dade has 96 travel-related cases, the most in the state.

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