Scott says in a press release that lifting the zone on Wynwood follows a 45-day period with no evidence of active transmission by mosquitoes of the Zika virus, which can cause cause severe birth defects and neurological disorders in fetuses.
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The news doesn’t mean that Zika has been eradicated throughout South Florida. More than 700 possible Zika infections in the United States were reported in pregnant women by the Center for Disease Control.
No new cases of Zika have been reported in Wynwood since early August, and on Monday health officials declared it to be no longer a zone of active local transmission. And on Friday, he announced the state was allocating an additional $10 million to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.
Window screens and bed netting treated with insecticide should be used at all times and those returning from Zika-affected areas should use repellent for at least three weeks after their return to avoid being bitten, which could potentially further spread the virus to others through mosquito bites.
State health officials in July said the trendy arts district north of downtown Miami was the first place in the mainland U.S.to have mosquitoes transmitting the virus to people.
Women and men who lived in or traveled to the area “should be aware this location was considered an area of active Zika transmission from June 15 to September 18”, the CDC said.
Although most people with Zika have more mild symptoms, the disease can cause microcephaly in babies – and the accompanying devastating birth defects.
A battle over fundingPresident Obama has asked for $1.9 billion in emergency funding; Congress countered with $1.1 billion but has not passed the legislation. This week, 77 mayors, including those of Miami Beach, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston, wrote to the Congressional leadership urging that Congress work together.
The fight against Zika rages on in other parts of Miami. Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare providers about getting tested. Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday that the arts district is no longer consi. That prompted state officials to create a warning box around the Wynwood community to show where the virus was spreading.
“The Aedes mosquito breeds in clean water”.
The mosquito was almost eradicated in the United States in the first half of the 20th century but has since rebounded, though today its range has contracted to the southern tier and up the eastern seaboard. It takes people a while to become infected after they are bitten by a mosquito, then to develop symptoms.
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Meanwhile, a local transmission area in nearby Miami Beach was expanded just last week.
