So far health authorities seem confident the problem is under control, enough that they have not told pregnant women to avoid South Florida, Miami, or even the Wynwood area.
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“Florida has become the first state in our country to have a local transmission of the Zika virus”, Scott said.
The risk in the state on the south-east coast of the United States is classed as moderate, while many countries in South America, including Olympic host Brazil, is high. In most people, the virus causes only mild illness, but infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects for the fetus.
As word spread that Miami’s hippest neighborhood was now considered ground zero for the first mosquito-transmitted infections of the Zika virus in the USA mainland, many residents vowed to take precautions, local officials urged tourists not to change travel plans and mosquito-control workers geared up for war against the pests. Health officials believe the infections occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami.
It’s the only part of the state now being tested for potential local transmissions of Zika, Scott said.
Zika primarily spreads through bites from tropical mosquitoes, but it also can be spread through sex.
But as the number of Zika cases grow in Alabama-could what happened in Florida, happen here?
Health officials traced the cases in question to a specific section of Miami-Dade County, though the virus was reported in individuals of Broward County as well.
Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people.
Dr. Allison Arwady, the Chicago Health Department’s chief medical officer, says the Florida cases aren’t surprising.
In U.S. states and Washington, D.C., there already have been 1,658 cases among travelers and their sexual partners, including 433 pregnant women, according to the CDC.
Wallace says the four locally transmitted cases in Florida should be an eye opener for East Texans.
“Really be vigilant about mosquito bites, especially women who could potentially get pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant”, said Dr. Vandana Bhide with Mayo Clinic. Florida is an outdoors state with pristine beaches, award-winning state parks and world class fishing.
The biggest danger is to pregnant women and their unborn babies. The FDA called a temporary halt to blood donations in the Miami area until all the collected blood can be tested for Zika virus.
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The city’s first case of Zika was reported on March 3, followed by a second case reported on April 22.
