The Zika virus has jumped from Miami and is now spreading in nearby Miami Beach, a news report says.

Florida health officials are already inspecting neighborhoods trying to determine the areas of mosquito infestation that may harbor the virus, the Miami Herald says.

But Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales refuted the story. Although he acknowledged that local cases are being investigated, no evidence of homegrown Zika had yet been confirmed, he says.

"By now you may have seen the various news reports regarding the Zika virus linked to Miami Beach. It is important to note that at this time the Department of Health has NOT confirmed any cases on Miami Beach, however we have been informed that cases are being investigated," wrote Morales in an email to city residents Thursday night.

"Please feel confident in knowing that the city has been proactively focused on the elimination of potential breeding sites for months, and we are aggressively continuing these efforts," Morales wrote.

"We are also working with Miami-Dade County as they are inspecting, and as needed, mitigating through techniques like clean ups, larvicides and targeted spraying," he added.

Miami Beach officials are especially worried about Zika because of the city’s reputation as a top tourist destination.  Tourism fell in Wynwood, a trendy area of Miami, when the neighborhood was identified as the first in the continental U.S. to have homegrown Zika.

According to Florida health officials, there are 479 cases of travel-related Zika, 35 homegrown cases, and 63 pregnant women are being monitored for the disease.

Homegrown Zika cases refer to those contracted from local mosquitos infected with the virus as opposed to people who contract the ailment while traveling.

Zika is linked to potentially fatal birth defects as well as a variety of neurological problems in adults.