The Florida Department of Health Thursday reported two new non-travel related cases of Zika showing up outside the one-square-mile area around Miami’s Wynwood arts district where several cases had previously been reported. The mosquito transmits the Zika virus and is being studied at the institute.
Advertisement
According to reports, Zika is now spreading in Miami Beach.
“We believe these cases were from mosquitoes”, said Florida Department of Health spokeswoman Mara Gambineri in an email to The Associated Press.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 2 travel notice on Thursday for people traveling to destinations that have been affected by Zika virus.
Gambineri said if the investigations reveal “likely active” transmissions outside of Wynwood, the department will announce another “defined area of concern”.
“If you travel to a Zika area and you’re pregnant, please reach out to your primary care or OB/GYN, and they will offer you testing and ultrasound as needed”, she said. He also offered tools for addressing the Zika threat, such as educational materials and mosquito spraying at no cost to businesses.
See also: A Texas Baby Was the First Known Person to Die From Zika in the U.S.
The total number of infections involving pregnant women climbed to 63.
According to the Missouri Department of Health, there have been no reported cases of the Zika virus being contracted from a mosquito bite in the state.
Health officials are investigating nine of the non-travel-related cases because they are not within the area of local transmission and do not appear to be linked to that area.
The new cases come following a block on the trial of genetically modified mosquitoes being released in Florida to tackle the problem.
“Miami Beach does have a series of characteristics that make it particularly challenging”, Frieden said.
In order to connect the tourism industry with resources to combat the spread of the Zika virus, Governor Scott today directed the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and DOH to work with hotels, restaurants and attractions in Miami-Dade County on Zika prevention and education.
They said there were two new non-travel related cases and both were located outside of the one-square mile area in Miami.
Advertisement
The Zika virus has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of microcephaly in Brazil, raising alarm among public health officials globally about its spread.
