Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales said in a written statement that the city is in constant communication with Florida state health officials regarding the most effective approach of mosquito control, the paper says.
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The virus, which has spread rapidly through the Americas since it was first detected in Brazil past year, can cause the rare birth defect microcephaly, marked by abnormally small heads and developmental problems. “CDC scientists announced that enough evidence has accumulated to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects”.
The researchers also said the illness caused by Zika virus infection is generally mild and had no major impact on individuals who had a normal immune system or who were not pregnant.
“The availability of an investigational test to screen donated blood for Zika virus is an important step forward in maintaining the safety of the nation’s blood supply”, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said at the time in an agency news release.
Officials say a woman in her 60’s was exposed to the virus while traveling in Central America and that her case poses no risk to the public.
“Tourism is a driving force of Florida’s economy and this industry has the full support of our state in the fight against the Zika virus”, Scott added.
“While the department is continuing to investigate areas in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties where local transmissions of Zika may have occurred, the department still believes active transmissions are still only occurring in the area that is less than one square mile in Miami-Dade County”, the statement read.
The SCCHS said the woman had traveled outside of the United States before developing symptoms.
A handful of Zika cases have been identified and health officials are deciding which area or areas to include in any updated travel guidance, the source said.
The best way to prevent Zika is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
The biggest danger is to pregnant women.
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Zika is not known to be circulating in Kentucky’s mosquito population.
