Public Health England updated its travel advice after the first cases of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes on the U.S. mainland appeared in the state.
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The Florida Department of Health said that over the past two weeks, investigators have determined “a high likelihood exists” that four suspected non-travel cases in Miami-Dade and Broward County “are the result of local transmission”.
Governor Rick Scott said the state believed active transmission of the virus was occurring within an area of Miami about the size of a square mile (2.6 square kms).
Testing showed that one woman and three men had been infected, Scott said.
“Florida is far from us, fortunately we do not have those mosquito species that could transmit the Zika virus here in B.C”.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam Putnam said, “We are dedicated to protecting Floridians and visitors from Zika and will continue to support mosquito control programs throughout Florida with their surveillance and control efforts”.
More than 1,650 people in the mainland US have been infected with Zika in recent months, almost all while traveling overseas.
As of July, 14 countries or territories have reported microcephaly and other central nervous system malformations associated with Zika. “If we need more test kits, we will immediately request them from the [Centers for Disease Control]”.
Canada’s government also warned travelers about Zika in Florida and reiterated its guidance to “avoid travel” to countries with mosquito-borne Zika.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, many people infected with Zika may not experience any symptoms at all, but for those who do they may have fever, rash and even joint paint.
The parks intensified their fight against nuisance mosquitoes over a decade ago when the West Nile virus first surfaced in the USA, said industry consultant Dennis Speigel. If you have traveled to those counties in Florida within the last 28 days will not be able to donate.
According to the CDC, at least 50 pregnant women a day are affected in the US. Florida had more than 106 million visitors a year ago, and tourism is the state’s biggest industry.
Jacob’s jurisdiction covers the Orlando area’s major theme parks in the Orlando area. He also says it’s a good idea to take precautions at home like wearing bug spray, long sleeves and trousers and emptying out any standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed. However, Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought to battle the virus.
Scott has allocated over $25 million for dealing with Zika, and the White House and the CDC have provided over $10 million.
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“If invited, we’ve got a team ready to go”, he said.
