Miami Beach has expanded its local transmission zone of Zika virus after another five people reported flu-like symptoms, Florida governor Rick Scott confirmed.

Florida Department of Health (DOH) said it was increasing the transmission zone from 8<sup>th Street to 63<sup>rd Street after two men and three women were identified with the disease within one month of each other.

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This takes the total to of non-travel related cases in the area to 35. The total number in Florida of non-travel related cases is currently 93 and there have been more than 1,600 travel-related cases of Zika across the country.

Larviciding is currently taking place in Miami as part of a series of aggressive mosquito control measures. The zone in Wynwood, known as the trendy part of the city for its art and galleries, will be lifted on Monday.

Scott announced, despite Congress inaction to increases funds, that he would be pledging an additional $10m in state resources to continue fighting the virus. He is also renewing his call to the Obama administration to provide 10,000 Zika Prevention Kits to protect pregnant women.

He said: "Every minute that passes that Congress doesn't approve funding means more time is lost from researching this virus to find a vaccine to help pregnant women and their developing babies."

Zika virus is transmitted via Aedes aegypti mosquitos. Pregnant women are most at risk as the virus causes abnormalities in fetuses, known as microcephaly.

Monika Gehner, of the World Health Organisation, previously told IBTimes UK that everyone must adhere to protection measures to avoid mosquito bites.

"It can be managed through personal protection measures, such as using insect repellent, wearing clothes that cover the body as much as possible, and avoiding areas where there is stagnant water," she said.

The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the US.

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