Zika Making National Headlines But Local Health Expert Says Nothing To Fear
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – South Florida is making headlines across the country because of the Zika virus, but few local leaders are discussing it.
Doctors are so worried about it that local blood banks are not taking new donations until a testing system can be put in place.
While this may sound startling to some, an FIU Zika expert says only 20 percent of people who get the virus will experience symptoms.
"Fever, headache, pink eyes, they'll get a rash and they may start having some joint pain," says Dr. Aileen Marty.
State health leaders are not speaking to the media, choosing instead to send press releases.
The local health department isn't talking either, referring CBS4's questions to the state.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is one of the few leaders who is talking. He says people do not need to avoid coming to South Florida.
"There's 2.7 million people here in Miami-Dade County," says Gimenez, "We may have one or two cases that may have been locally transmitted."
Dr. Marty and Mayor Gimenez stress that while the state is keeping quiet, they are ahead of this potential threat.
"We have a really strong infrastructure and we have excellent mosquito control group and we understand how these mosquitos do what they do," says Marty.
Miami-Dade County is calling for the public's help.
They want people to take precautions so you don't get bit and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitos.
"It could be as little as a cap full of water," Mayor Gimenez advises, "Go into your yards, if you have any kind of standing water, drain it, cover it and anytime you have rain go outside and see if there's any standing water anywhere.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated recommendations on how to prevent the spread of the virus that has been linked to birth defects. Health experts say it can spread through sexual contact or infected mosquitoes.
The Florida Health Department said Zika prevention kits and repellent are being distributed in the areas where the four possible non-travel cases are located. It also said they are available through local OBGYNs and the Departments of Health in Miami-Dade and Broward County.
According to the Department of Health hotline, the kits are not being distributed yet, because they aren't ready. Once they are, pregnant women in affected zip codes will receive them. They will also appear at doctors offices and the health department.
Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.
