Mosquitoes spread Zika in 4 cases, Florida says
MIAMI — The Zika virus is actively being transmitted by mosquitoes in a 1-square-mile area just north of downtown Miami, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday morning, confirming that four cases of Zika infection in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were acquired locally.
The area is currently the only part of the state where the Florida Department of Health is testing to see if local mosquitoes are spreading Zika. All four of Florida’s cases — two in Miami-Dade County and two in Broward County — are active Zika cases, but none of the people infected have exhibited symptoms to be admitted to the hospital.
“We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite,” Scott said in confirming the locally acquired cases.
The first suspected case was announced in Miami-Dade County on July 19, and the second in Broward County on July 21. On Wednesday, the Health Department announced two more suspected cases in the two counties.
The department reported two new travel-related cases Thursday, both involving pregnant women, raising the statewide total to 383 people who have contracted the virus this year, including 55 expectant mothers.
Pregnant women are considered to be at the greatest risk from the Zika virus because it can cause microcephaly and other birth defects.
No mosquitoes in Florida have tested positive for the Zika virus to date, Scott said. But the Health Department is testing people in the area in search of other cases.
“Zika is now here,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Still, U.S. health officials said they do not expect widespread outbreaks in this country like those seen in Brazil, in part because of better sanitation, better mosquito control and wider
use of window screens and air conditioners.
In confirming local transmission of Zika, Scott said he directed the Health Department to immediately begin contracting with commercial pest-control companies to increase spraying and mosquito-reduction efforts in the affected area.
The governor also directed the department to activate the Joint Information Center within the state’s Emergency Operations Center to ensure affected areas have coordinated access to information and resources.
“This is not just a Florida issue. It’s a national issue — we just happen to be at the forefront,” Scott said.
Zika’s symptoms can include low-grade fever, rash, joint pain, headaches and inflamed eyes and typically last seven to 10 days. While most people who get Zika don’t even know they are sick, infection during pregnancy can cause severe brain-related birth defects, including abnormally small heads.
Zika primarily spreads through bites from a species of mosquito that is found in urban parts of the South and peaks in number in August and September. There have been more than 4,700 cases of mosquito-borne Zika in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
More than 1,650 people in the mainland U.S. have been infected with Zika in recent months, nearly all while traveling abroad.
Florida agricultural officials immediately announced more aggressive mosquito-control efforts, and Florida politicians rushed to assure tourists it’s still safe to visit the state.
Some medical experts said pregnant women should not travel to the Miami area, especially if the visit involves spending time outdoors.
Health officials said the U.S. might see small clusters of infections. But “we don’t expect widespread transmission in the continental United States,” the CDC’s Frieden said.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, whose jurisdiction includes Walt Disney World and other Orlando-area theme parks, said tourists shouldn’t think twice about coming to the Sunshine State. Florida had more than 106 million visitors last year, and tourism is the state’s biggest industry.
Florida’s theme parks “have mosquito control down like no place else I don’t think on the planet,” Jacobs said.
Zika-fighting efforts include pesticide spraying, setting traps and eliminating standing water around homes.