Florida is so far the only U.S. state to report cases of local Zika transmission since the outbreak began sweeping Latin America previous year.
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Minicuci said the case is more evidence that certain residents should heed the government’s warning to avoid travel to Zika hot spots.
Zika virus is usually spread by carrier mosquitos, and in some cases can be spread through sexual contact. As of August 3, there have been 1,818 cases of travel-associated cases of Zika confirmed in the United States and 16 cases of sexually transmitted by a partner who returned from travel overseas.
Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County Preparedness Planner and Safety Coordinator Pamela A. Crain, who also covers Highlands County, noted some of the Zika efforts by her agency.
Scott ordered health departments to test pregnant women for Zika for free. Although the state of Florida has reported several locally transmitted cases in that state, this is not the situation in Louisiana.
Murthy said his biggest concern was pregnant women because Zika has been linked to severe birth defects and other developmental problems. Those who do feel sick have reported fever, rash, body aches and conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
United States health authorities on Friday (Aug 12) declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico due to the outbreak of Zika, which has now infected more than 10,000 people.
Puerto Rico has confirmed more than 10,690 cases, including more than a thousand in pregnant women, of Zika virus through mosquito bite. There is no vaccine or medicine for zika virus.
According to Dr. Frank Welch, Medical Director for the department’s Bureau of Community Preparedness, the early detection of local transmission of the Zika virus is a key strategy to prevent its spread. Pregnant women can pass Zika to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Davis said Zika has the potential to cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly – a condition in which a baby’s head is much smaller than expected, because the brain has not fully developed during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth.
The Department of Health on Thursday also provided a breakdown of how the state is allocating funding to combat the Zika virus.
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Precautions to take against mosquito bites include using a repellent with DEET and not going outside without repellent or protective clothing after dusk.
