The zone of active transmission of Zika virus in Miami Beach has tripled to now encompass two thirds of the seaside city.

Gov. Rick Scott announced the expansion late Friday evening in a news release. The zone now stretches from 8th Street to 63rd Street — a 4.5-square-mile zone covering all of South and Middle Beach.

The Florida Department of Health has identified five people who all experienced symptoms within one month of each other — three of them in the newly expanded area, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

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Statement from Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez regarding expanded local-transmission area in Miami Beach

MIAMI (September 17, 2016) — 

Last night, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Department of Health has confirmed locally-acquired Zika cases in an expanded area of Miami Beach beyond the 1.5-square-mile area of 8th street to 28th Street. As a result  of these findings, the Department of Health has expanded the area of local transmission to a 4.5-square-mile area from 8th Street to 63rd Street. 
 
At this time, Miami-Dade County will not expand aerial spraying beyond the 1.5-square-mile area of local transmission. Our Mosquito Control team will continue our aggressive on-the-ground and truck spraying into next week in the 4.5-square-mile area. All decisions that we make to keep our community safe from the Zika virus are made in direct consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Florida Departments of Health and Agriculture, and our municipal partners. We will review the epidemiological and trap data over the weekend, and consult with our health and environmental experts, and the City of Miami Beach, before making further decisions about the best way to break the cycle of transmission in the expanded area. 
 
We continue to rely on our residents and visitors to help us stop the spread of Zika by draining any standing water, wearing mosquito repellant, covering up with long sleeves and pants when going outdoors, and practicing safe sex.

http://www.miamidade.gov/releases/2016-09-17-mayor-statement-expanded-area.asp