While it’s generally transmitted by mosquitoes, sexually transmitted cases have been reported.
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CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the agency is always ready to assist states for with Zika, including Florida. CBS 46 also spoke one-on-one with the nation’s top doctor about the growing threat of Zika, now with confirmed cases of mosquito transmission in the US. That means in addition to infected people entering or re-entering the US-say, after a tropical vacation-Zika’s entire mosquito-borne infection cycle has now officially been documented in the US.
You can get the Zika virus if an infected female mosquito bites you, or through sexual contact.
The Aedes mosquito doesn’t travel more than 150 meters (450 yards) in its lifetime, Frieden said. The patient has recovered and poses no risk to others.
Although the CDC and the Florida Department of Health have provided only limited information so far, Frieden offered some explanation for why they have homed in on that area. National and state case counts can be found here. That number does not include the four Florida cases that were likely caused by local transmission.
Health officials think that the USA should be able to avoid a major outbreak because of better sanitation, better mosquito control and more extensive use of window screens and air conditioners.
Zika virus has been reported in Africa and parts of Asia since the 1950s, and in the southwestern Pacific Ocean since 2007.
The early detection of Zika virus is a key strategy to prevent its spread.
Health officials have been long predicting this would happen in the continental USA sometime this summer, probably in Florida and Texas, because of the large numbers of people who travel back and forth to Latin America. Containing community clusters will require good mosquito control and aggressive testing to track Zika, something Florida has done before in stopping a similar virus – dengue – that’s spread by the same mosquitoes. However, when the virus infects pregnant women, it’s known to cause severe birth defects, such as a small and malformed brain and head, a condition called microcephaly. The CDC has a list of travel notices for these areas here. “Use some insect propellant and try to avoid bites”.
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Wear light-colored, long sleeves and trousers. These cases are believed to have caught the virus locally through mosquito bites.
