Four locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus have been discovered north of Miami, sparking concerns for people who are traveling to Florida and igniting worry that it could spread further in the USA mainland.
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Since February, over 380 Zika cases related to travel have been confirmed in Florida, including 151 cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Health officials believe that the infections occurred in a very small area, north of Miami. “While no mosquitoes have tested positive for the Zika virus, DOH is aggressively testing people in this area to ensure there are no other cases”. However, up until now the cases were the result of travel to a Zika-infected country or by sexual transmission with a partner who had been to a Zika-infected country. Rosebo has seen Miami-Dade mosquito control personnel spraying in the area the last few days.
“This is not just a Florida issue”.
“If invited, we’ve got a team ready to go”, he said.
Public Health England is advising pregnant women to consider postponing any non-essential trips to Florida, amid concerns over the Zika virus.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there have been 84 reported cases of Zika in Texas, two in Travis County, four in Williamson County.
Some medical experts said pregnant women should not travel to the Miami area, especially if the visit involves spending time outdoors.
According to the CDC, babies born with the Zika virus transmitted from their mothers who contracted the disease while pregnant have developed microcephaly – a disease which causes the babies’ brains and heads to shrink.
This is now the only area of the state where the Florida Department of Health is testing to see if there local mosquitoes are spreading Zika. It said the risk in Florida from Zika was considered moderate based on the number and spread of cases.
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Zika primarily spreads through bites from tropical mosquitoes, but it also can be spread through sex. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is behind the large outbreaks of Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean. Marco Rubio says the tourism-dependent state may face an economic crisis if visitors start canceling plans to come here. (Mosquitos only need the amount of water in a bottle cap to breed.)2.
