MIAMI (AP) – 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 US 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. The four people seem to have been infected for several weeks, and US officials say they don’t see a reason to advise people to avoid the area, noting that mosquito control measures in the area have been stepped up and there haven’t been more cases identified. A vaccine or treatment for Zika virus infection is not now available, but state tests can detect Zika immediately after infection.
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“These [U.S.] cases are not unexpected”.
“As we have anticipated, Zika is now here”, Frieden said.
“Now that Florida has become the first state to have a local transmission likely through a mosquito”. In most people, the virus causes only mild illness, but infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects for the fetus.
Taavon says experts still don’t know exactly how long the virus will stay in a man or woman’s system or when it could impact an unborn baby.
“Puerto Rico is in the midst of a Zika epidemic”.
Public health authorities updated their travel advice after the first cases of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes on the USA mainland appeared in the state.
On Friday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott confirmed the Zika outbreak that prompted England’s travel advisory. Make sure your screens on your windows do not have holes.
Judging by the state’s experience with dengue, a mosquito-borne virus, officials say pockets of cases in limited clusters are most likely. We will continue to put every resource available to fight in the spread of Zika in our state. Four cases believed caused by mosquito bites have been reported in Florida. “They’re spraying by both truck and backpack, both for adult mosquitoes and larval mosquitoes”.
“We would not be surprised if individual additional cases are reported”, he said.
“If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip” she said. Currently, no mosquitoes that were captured have tested positive.
The CDC has not issued a travel limit to the state of Florida.
“Zika is now here”, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We don’t now see a situation where we would advise pregnant women not to travel there”, Frieden said. 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.
Reports state that no further Zika cases were identified in the area.
It is believed that the active transmission is happening in one small area in north Miami.
The FDA urged nearby counties to take similar precautions to safeguard blood supplies.
Fifty three people have been treated for the Zika virus, which can be predominantly transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Those two main factors have made the Sunshine State ground zero for a local transmission outbreak of the Zika virus.
No details were given as to the exact point where the Zika cases were reported.
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Kelly Taulbee, Director of Nursing at the Hocking County Health Department, also recommended that pregnant women should consider postponing travel to areas where Zika is spreading.
