“While this investigation is ongoing, [the Department of Health] still believes that ongoing active transmissions are only occurring in the two previously identified areas in Wynwood and Miami Beach”. He said the fifth was diagnosed in a Pinellas County resident who hasn’t traveled internationally.
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On Tuesday, Florida announced four new cases of Zika in the Wynwood neighborhood, where officials have been aggressively spraying for the mosquitoes that carry the virus for weeks. The children of pregnant women who contract Zika may develop a severe form of brain damage called microcephaly, and in adults the virus may lead to Guillain-Barré syndrome. Local officials said they believe ground-level efforts will be most effective against the type of mosquito that transmits Zika, which can breed in small containers. Tampa’s defense plan Cities like Tampa are preparing for their defense of the Zika virus. Florida has reported homegrown Zika transmission by mosquitoes. None of those infected were pregnant women.
Tuesday’s new cases in Wynwood came despite Scott saying that state officials were able to “clear almost the entire perimeter of the area” where local transmissions likely occurred.
As of August 17, the CDC had located 405 travel-associated cases and 14 locally acquired cases of Zika in Florida.
Over the weekend, news of Miami Beach, Florida becoming the new hotspot for the Zika virus was announced.
According to the CDC, Zika virus has the potential to be spread through a mosquito bite, through unprotected sexual contact, through blood transfusion and an infected pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy.
If you or your partner live in or travel to an area with Zika, use condoms or other barriers, the right way, every time you have sex or do not have sex throughout the pregnancy.
Gov. Scott says state health officials “have begun door-to-door outreach and are taking samples there, while initiating mosquito abatement measures”.
Zika symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain, headaches and birth defects.
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As of Monday, Polk County had recorded 16 cases of travel-related Zika and no locally originating cases.
