Aerial spraying and door-to-door operations on the ground have cut mosquito populations in Wynwood by up to 90 per cent, but Zika may be continuing as mosquitoes breed, said CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden.
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South Beach has been identified as a second site of Zika transmission by mosquitoes on the USA mainland.
Ashley Beauegard, a yoga teacher who is 6 months pregnant, canceled her baby shower in Miami Beach, and worries, her home, 15 minutes north of the Zika zone, may also be a vulnerable area.
As of August 17, there have been 2,260 confirmed USA cases of the virus, but just 14 actively transmitted cases all of which occurred in two areas of Miami, Florida.
A more nuanced map released by NASA, which cross-referenced the presence of mosquitoes with the amount of returning travelers from Zika-affected areas, also seemed to overstate the risk in NY, which isn’t home to the aegypti mosquitoes that are primary carriers of the virus.
Officials announced Friday they had cleared three new blocks of Wynwood because there is “no continued evidence of transmission” there.
Scientists long feared an outbreak in states along the Gulf of Mexico, where the Aedes aegypti mosquito was expected to transmit Zika.
She said the investigation into the new cases concluded this morning.
For this reason, it is possible that other neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County have active Zika transmission that is not yet apparent.
CDC advises those living in or traveling to Miami-Dade County to enhance their efforts to prevent mosquito bites. Officials from Florida participated in all these activities, and their experience in responding to mosquito-borne diseases similar to Zika has been an important source of knowledge in this effort.
“Today, Florida’s governor drew a box around 1.5 square miles where infected mosquitoes are spreading the virus”, ABC’s Steve Osunsami said.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada said in a statement Friday that the transmission of Zika in Miami Beach was the most alarming development yet, and the threat to the country’s health and economy has never been greater.
At least six schools are near the affected areas, and now thousands of parents are adding Off! sprays and wipes, as well as other protective items, to their back-to-school routines.
Most people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms.
In response to the Miami Beach outbreak, Scott said he had requested an additional 5,000 Zika tests, additional lab personnel to expedite testing and 10,000 more Zika prevention kits for pregnant women.
No vaccines or treatments are now available to treat or prevent Zika infections.
More than 1,650 cases of Zika have been reported in USA states.
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There are 14 locally transmitted cases in the U.S.
