U.S. Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, said the transmission of Zika in Miami Beach “is the most alarming development yet in the rapidly growing threat of Zika in the United States”.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quickly followed up with a new travel advisory for pregnant women, telling them to consider avoiding “all nonessential travel” to all of Miami-Dade County due to evidence of widespread transmission of Zika, which can cause severe birth defects. He added that five people have already been infected by Zika in the area, including three tourists from New York, Texas and Taiwan.
The affected sections of Miami Beach include the very tourist-heavy South Beach, and a number of tourists, including at least one from NY, contracted the virus there.
The new area of infection in South Beach is roughly 1.5 square miles between 8th and 28th streets, according to Florida’s Department of Health.
Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that 5 people have been locally infected with the Zika virus in the Miami Beach area.
The state has a total of 524 cases of Zika, majority brought in by people who were infected while traveling to areas of Latin America where the virus is spreading.
Zika, which has extended through a large part of Latin America and the Caribbean, can cause pregnant women to have babies with microcephalic deformity and neurological problems.
Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC director, warned Friday that more cases of local Zika transmission are likely to emerge in the county.
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.
Ventura County health officials believe that the type of mosquito that transmits Zika is not present in the county.
Health officials were quick to point out that unlike in Miami, both the county’s Zika cases are travel related.
Authorities have intensified efforts to control the mosquito population around Wynwood, using aerial spray and targeting standing water.
“We have two small areas, one less than a mile, and we’ve been able to reduce the footprint”. The other one is in the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami.
After learning that parts of Miami Beach are home to the latest confirmed cases of Zika, the family changed their plans.
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Five people tested positive for Zika in Miami Beach; three tourists and two residents. Each evaluation should include an assessment of signs and symptoms of Zika virus disease (acute onset of fever, rash, arthralgia, conjunctivitis); their travel history; as well as their sexual partner’s potential exposure to Zika virus and history of any illness consistent with Zika virus disease to determine whether Zika virus testing is indicated.
