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Miamians and tourists concerned about Zika after 4 locally acquired cases confirmed at Wynwood

Posted at 11:12 PM, Jul 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-29 23:32:02-04

The smell of DEET is in the air at the Wynwood Arts District. On Friday Governor Rick Scott confirmed four people were infected by mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus within a one square mile of the Wynwood Arts District in Miami. 

"Now that it's here, we're a little bit concerned," said Farlin Betancourt who lives in Miami. 

Betancourt says it's even scarier now know what the virus does to pregnant women. She is in her second trimester. 

"We just recently saw the doctor today and basically there's nothing that can be done," she added. 

Betancourt and her family celebrated her birthday Friday at a restaurant right in the middle of that one square mile health officials warned about. No mosquitoes in the area have tested positive for Zika yet, but Betancourt is taking the necessary precautions using repellant. 

Some tourists are already feeling the bite in the area. Dimitri and Charmaine from Montreal were taking a bike ride through Wynwood when they just learned about Zika. 

"Now I'm kind of scared actually," said Charmaine who showed several mosquito bites on her leg. 

"This is actually our first real long trip that we're doing on our bikes, so this is something that we need to know," said Dimitri who will be buying repellant to spray for the remainder of their vacation in Miami. 

Wynwood businesses have been bracing for this. The mosquitoes that can carry Zika like to breed in urban areas and Wynwood is known to have busy outdoor bars and restaurants. 

"We don't want to louse our outside business out here, but we also want ot make sure we're taking care of everyone," said CJ Jones, General Manager of GK Bistronomie.

Jones says they are putting out repellant for employees and customers. They are also accommodating customers who would rather dine indoors.