Locally Acquired Zika Cases Rises To 15 In South Florida
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – State health officials said they are investigating one new locally acquired case of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade County - bringing the total to 15 non-travel related cases within South Florida.
They also announced three new travel-related cases - all located in Miami-Dade County.
The new announcement comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is finding it more difficult than it originally thought to wipe out mosquitoes that may be carrying the virus.
State health officials reported that 14 of the people had contracted the virus after being bitten by mosquitoes in Miami's Wynwood arts district. The new case was reportedly acquired outside the designated area in Wynwood.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez met with CDC officials on Tuesday and announced there would aerial mosquito spraying within the 10-mile Wynwood area. They also said mosquito testing, at last check, came back negative for the virus.
Still, the CDC has issued a rare travel warning advising pregnant women to avoid the Wynwood area because mosquito counts are still high in the area.
Couples who have been there recently are advised to put off having children for at least two months and expectant mothers should get tested for the virus if they have visited the neighborhood since mid-June.
"Certainly if you're a pregnant woman and you spent time in the Wynwood area, either visting or working or living there, it's appropriate for you to be tested but if you haven't been to that area, it's 1. unlikely that you've been exposed and 2. there is a limited resource. There are only a certain number of test kits available to test people," said Gynecologist Dr. Elizabeth Etkin-Kramer.
As for the travel warning, it covers an area of about one square mile in Wynwood to the east of Interstate 95 and south of I-195. It's large enough, health officials said, to provide a buffer around the suspected hot zone. The tropical mosquito that spreads Zika travels less than 200 yards in its lifetime.
Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting Yourself
CDC Director Tom Frieden said mosquito control is difficult in the neighborhood because it has industrial, commercial and residential development. The mosquito that carries the virus is generally difficult to eradicate.
He added that it's possible mosquitoes are resistant to the insecticide being used, but it could take weeks for federal and state officials to figure that out. He said there also could be breeding sites that haven't been destroyed.
CDC officials said they could not remember another time in the 70-year history of the disease-fighting agency when it told members of the public not to travel someplace in the U.S.
On Monday, the United Kingdom and New York issued a travel advisory warning travelers - especially pregnant women - to avoid the affected area of South Florida.
Related: Gov. Scott: Florida Remains 'Safe State' Amid Zika Battle
At last check, Florida health officials said they have tested more than 200 people in Miami-Dade and Broward counties since early July. Emergency response teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will help Florida authorities investigate the outbreak, collect samples and control mosquitoes. So far no mosquitoes in Miami or elsewhere in Florida have tested positive for Zika.
Residents and frequent visitors to Wynwood are keeping up to date on the latest information concerning the situation.
"We have plenty of mosquitoes around here but I'm not scared because they say that the Zika is not her in Wynwood," said resident Alberto Carreras.
Kari Vidal, who used to live in Wynwood, is concerned. She's expecting her second son in October.
"It's definitely difficult going through a pregnancy in the heat of the summer and now, mosquitos are everywhere. You can get a bite in your car, walking to your car, even in your own house sometimes."
She added, "I'm very concerned about my husband as well. I have gotten him his own bottle of repellent and we are taking all the necessary precautions. As far as I understand, he could get it and we wouldn't even know."
Governor Rick Scott said they've been dealing with the threat of Zika for months, everything is under control and Florida is open for business.
"This has been going on for quite a while. We had our first case of travel related Zika virus in February, I declared a state of emergency, and we've been working on this. We now have 14 cases out of 20 million people and probably 60 million visitors this year, so come to Florida we are going to take care of you."
Zika infections in pregnant women can cause severe brain-related birth defects, including microcephaly which is a serious birth defect of the brain. The global outbreak has led to more than 1,800 serious defects.
On Tuesday the CDC announced that it had awarded more than $16 million to 40 states and territories to establish, enhance, and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection.
The agency said the awards were a stopgap diverted from other public health resources until Zika funds are provided by Congress.
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