Given the association between Zika virus and the elevated risk of serious health effects on unborn children, it is recommended that pregnant women avoid travel to areas where Zika virus is presently circulating.
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We believe active transmissions of Zika virus are occurring in the area of Miami Beach between Eight Street and 28th streets, health official said in a press release.
But if you’re anxious about Zika, unless you’re travel to the Caribbean, South America, or you live in Miami, you probably don’t have much to be concerned about.
“There are undoubtedly more infections that we’re not aware of right now”, CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a briefing.
These cases, several hundred were also spotted in France, are particularly worrisome because they do not show an epidemic that would trigger locally.
691 pregnant women in U.S. Territories.
At present, travel-related, congenital and sexually-transmitted cases of Zika virus have been documented in Canada. The Florida Department of Health has also identified at least four other instances of apparently mosquito-borne Zika in Miami-Dade County, and has reported an increase in travel-related cases.
Those in the travel industry are hopeful the CDC and Florida health officials can keep the virus contained to that area in Miami, because if it spreads beyond that, they’re concerned the casual attitude of travelers today could change markedly.
Five cases of local contamination by the virus mainly transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (the family of the tiger mosquito that appears periodically in France), were spotted by local authorities Friday 19.
In 2015, the greater Miami area received a record 15.5 million visitors who spent at least one night here and spent an estimated $24.4 billion. The top destination for those tourists was Miami Beach. In addition, it will be more hard to convince people to wear long sleeves and trousers in a part of the city where people go to spend time on the beach, he said. “We put this in place once the news started getting insane”. Two of the individuals are Florida residents who live in Miami-Dade County.
The area in question is however reduced in the city.
Mr. Talbert said this has been a record summer for Miami Beach, where tourism is the top employer and where overnight visitors spent about $11 billion a year ago. But “we as a hotel operator are very concerned due to the new developments with this virus”, he added.
While most spread is linked to the bite of an infected mosquito, less common types of spread have been reported.
Pinellas County is pleased to leverage local and state resources in our fight against Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases, said Brian Lawton, coordination of the countys mosquito control program.
“I’m disappointed”, said Joseph Furst, chairman of the Wynwood Business Improvement District, which represents more than 400 property owners in the neighborhood.
The city of Miami Beach has been preparing for Zika for months. The city’s code compliance team also has been educating property owners on measures such as removing pooled water from backyards.
Residents are being asked to help reduce the mosquito population by removing standing water where mosquitos can breed.
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Officials continue to struggle with controlling mosquitos in the Wynwood area of Miami, Frieden said.
