WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Health officials say two people bitten by mosquitoes in Florida have become infected with the chikungunya virus.
Dozens of cases of the illness have been reported in the state, but prior to Thursday all were contracted during travel to the Caribbean.
The Department of Health says in the locally acquired cases, a person who was infected in the Caribbean was bitten by a mosquito in Florida and that mosquito in turn bit someone in the state.
The two cases are in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
Chikungunya is rarely fatal, but can cause symptoms for months and even years.
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