Scott’s comments followed news on Friday that the Zika transmission zone in Miami Beach, a popular tourist destination, had tripled in size after five new cases of infection were detected. “We must also all do our part to remain vigilant and keep the Wynwood zone lifted”, said Scott in a statement.
Advertisement
Florida Governor Rick Scott said Monday that the Wynwood Zika zone has been lifted after 45 days with no evidence of active transmission in the area.
Hundreds of people in the state have become infected with the virus that can cause severe birth defects.
The virus poses a particular threat to pregnant woman due to its link with neurological disorders in unborn children.
Dr. Lyle Peterson of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called it “a huge success”.
No new cases of Zika have been reported in Wynwood since early August.
The Florida Department of Health extended its Miami Beach local transmission zone to include a 4.5 square mile zone running from 8th Street to 63rd Street, including the famed Fontainebleau hotel.
Sept 19 USA health officials on Monday continued to advise pregnant women and their partners to consider postponing non-essential travel to Miami to avoid the risk of exposure to Zika, even as Florida Governor Rick Scott declared the city’s Wynwood neighborhood Zika-free and invited visitors to return.
“At first they said they couldn’t do aerial spraying, but then they said yes”, said Sadie Kaplan, a fitness trainer who fled her home twice to avoid the spraying.
Currently, two new non-travel related cases are under investigation by officials and the total number of non-travel related cases statewide is up to 79.
But the CDC isn’t exactly telling pregnant women to return to Wynwood, in spite of Florida health officials’ announcing Monday that it’s no longer an active infection zone.
The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil a year ago and has since spread across the US. Celeste Philip, Florida’s surgeon general, said the state is trying to speed up processing for Zika tests for pregnant women. Those afflicted commonly have a fever or rash, red, itchy eyes, muscle pain and fatigue, if they show any symptoms at all.
“We’re scared of Zika, we don’t like the Naled spraying”, a resident said.
“If you don’t get bit, you’re not going to get Zika”, Gimenez said.
Advertisement
September 16, 2016: One mosquito sample from a small area in Miami Beach tested positive for Zika. He said the couple has tried to balance Zika with other safety recommendations for pregnant women.
