Now, as the mosquito-transmitted virus steadily made its way into the United States, England issued a Zika travel advisory and have advised pregnant women to delay any nonessential travel to Florida following cases of local transmission of the virus that were discovered in Miami.
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Zika has been associated with the birth defect microcephaly, which can cause children to be born with abnormally small heads and brain damage.
As of July 21, there were 433 cases of the virus that can cause birth defects involving pregnant women in the USA and an additional 422 cases in US territories. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should avoid travel to Zika-affected areas, including Florida.
As Florida has its first reported case of Zika virus transmitted by mosquitoes on the USA mainland, here’s what Canadians need to know.
Gov. Rick Scott confirmed this morning that Florida is likely the first state in the nation to have locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus.
“If you’re travelling to any of these places you should follow the advice of the National Travel Health Network and Centre and discuss your travel plans with your healthcare provider, particularly if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant”.
The cases were reported by the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust on Friday.
“While no mosquitoes trapped tested positive for the Zika virus, the department believes these cases were likely transmitted through infected mosquitoes in this area”, it said. Fifteen of those cases were sexually transmitted by a partner who had been overseas.
The four cases are in neighboring Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Florida officials said they are still looking into the cases and have not come to a conclusion.
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The Zika virus is spread by bites from two mosquito species: Aedes aegypti (primarily) and Aedes albopictus, both found in Florida. But the mosquitoes that carry the virus – called the yellow fever mosquito – are “not established” in Canada, and wouldn’t be suited to our climate, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. “We will continue to support Florida’s efforts to investigate and respond to Zika and will reassess the situation and our recommendations on a daily basis”. 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.
