Pregnant women are being advised to postpone non-essential trips to Florida because of the Zika virus.
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Paul Cosford, PHE medical director and director of health protection, said: “We know the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is known to carry Zika virus, is present in Florida”. The state health department is reporting that “a high likelihood exists” that all four cases resulted from active transmission of the virus in a 1-mile area just north of downtown Miami.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz called that “regrettable” and said: “Today’s news should be a wake-up call to Congress to get back to work”. “But no one should be surprised”.
“This means Florida has become the first state in our nation to have local transmission of the Zika virus”, Gov. Scott told reporters during a press conference on Friday.
One case of the mosquito-borne Zika virus has been confirmed in Athens County, as well as neighboring Hocking County.
“Women who are trying to have families, women with families, this is very important to them and for anyone who’s in the hospital”, Flanagan said. “The infections occurred in a small area where officials are aggressively targeting mosquitoes”.
But for expectant mothers, infection with the Zika virus can lead to infants born with serious brain defects and developmental abnormalities, especially an abnormally small head in a condition called microcephaly.
As the rain continues to fall on the Gulf Coast, companies like Mosquito Joe will continue to spray and people like Susan Hollinger say they’ll be prepared if Zika strikes.
Health officials have warned of possible localised Zika outbreaks in the USA, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in the past two years. “There’s a oneness that connects us all, so if someone else is suffering, we too, if we choose to, suffer, so even though I don’t have kids, it could be an epidemic”. PHE says men and women should use condoms for eight weeks after returning from a Zika virus area and for six months if they experience any symptoms themselves.
Miami-Dade County mosquito control inspector Sharon Nage walks through the Wynwood neighborhood looking for mosquitoes or breeding areas on July 30, 2016 in Miami.
Mosquitoes have apparently begun spreading Zika in U.S..
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News that the Zika virus has been linked to local mosquitoes is causing her to think twice. “If we need more test kits, we will immediately request them from the [Centers for Disease Control]”.
