Mosquito-borne Zika cases have been found in two neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County. Pregnant women have the most to lose from getting the virus, as it has been shown to result in birth defects and worse in fetuses. “It’s hard but important that pregnant women make every effort to avoid mosquito bites and avoid going to areas where Zika is spreading”.
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As of August 2 in Tennessee, we have had 23 confirmed cases of Zika virus (all among travelers), but we have had zero cases transmitted by local mosquitoes.
Officials believe the virus is only spreading in a 1 1/2 mile part of Miami Beach, but that area includes the much-visited South Beach area, Scott said.
U.S. health officials have warned pregnant women to avoid the area of Miami Beach, Florida, after receiving confirmation that the Zika virus is active in the popular tourist destination. “That’s why we’ve highlighted we are quite concerned about these two areas where we know there has been a spread of Zika through local mosquitoes”. On Thursday, Scott announced measures created to limit Zika, including offering mosquito spraying free of charge to businesses in Miami-Dade County. Fourteen blocks had been cleared earlier.
This one is in Miami Beach – outside the original designated “Zika Zone”.
There is also the heavily tourist-laden South Beach area to be concerned about, and Frieden said he realizes tourists and residents alike will hardly heed the advice to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers. The area’s high-rise buildings mean the aerial spraying that has been working in Wynwood won’t work in Miami Beach.
The Wynwood outbreak prompted the CDC to take the unprecedented step of advising pregnant women to stay away from the area.
“It was the first time the CDC ever issued a travel advisory within the continental U.S.,”CBS’ David Begnaud said”.
DOH says that five individuals that have already been confirmed as cases of local transmissions of Zika are connected to the Miami Beach area.
New research reported last Friday indicates that the Zika virus may also pose a wider threat than previously believed. 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. Yet with many such cases occurring locally in Florida, this may change.
The latest cases bring the total number of laboratory confirmed Zika cases in Puerto Rico to 13,186.
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All pregnant women in the United States should be evaluated for possible Zika virus exposure during each prenatal care visit.
