Florida officials on Tuesday announced the first case of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes in Pinellas County, located some 265 miles (425 km) from Miami, where the first locally transmitted USA cases were reported. “While this investigation is ongoing, the DOH still believes that ongoing active transmissions are only occurring in the two previously identified areas in Wynwood and Miami Beach”, said Governor Scott.
Advertisement
As physicians we are appalled that politics has prevented our government from funding a response to Zika that will protect women and their families.
The most common symptoms of Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
Any Pinellas County resident who would like to request mosquito control services for their residence or business should contact Pinellas County Mosquito Control.
Dr Gomez insisted that while the virus has been primarily transmitted as a result of mosquito bites, the increase in sexual transmitted cases of the virus has led officials to encourage use of condoms to guard against an outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told pregnant women Friday not to go into these neighborhoods – and to consider postponing travel to all parts of Miami-Dade County.
Women and men who live in or frequently travel to this area and who do not have signs or symptoms of Zika should talk to their health care provider to inform their decisions about the timing of pregnancy.
There was one bit of positive information in the report: In a few hot Southern cities in both Florida and Texas, rising extreme heat has caused the mosquito season to begin to decrease. And about eight pregnant women are likely to get infected during their first trimester – which would put their fetuses at risk for microcephaly.
These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, when severe, the person is nearly totally paralyzed.
In Miami Beach, at least five people have apparently beeninfected by local mosquitoes.
Around 360,000 students returned to school Monday in a Florida county struggling with concerns over Zika.
Advertisement
The dengue cases involved seven people from the Philippines, four from Indonesia, three from Singapore, two from Cambodia and one each from Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives and Laos, it said.
