Gov. Scott: Florida Remains 'Safe State' Amid Zika Battle
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Florida political leaders said controlling the spread of the Zika virus is doable amid advisories warning travelers to avoid visiting the state.
Gov. Rick Scott, at the start of a state Cabinet meeting Tuesday, said it's important to get the message out that Florida – anticipating a record 110 million to 115 million visitors this year – remains "a safe state."
"We have been working on this and we know have 14 cases out of 20 million people and probably 60 million visitors this year," Scott said. "Come to Florida, we're going to take care of you."
Late Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Department of Health announced they were investigating a new non-travel related infection in Miami-Dade County.
That's now 15 recorded cases of people being infected by mosquito bites in Florida, with the virus believed to have been transmitted in Miami's Wynwood arts district.
Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting Yourself
The Wynwood Yard, a popular outdoor dining and event venue that's 100 percent outdoors, closed for the day on Tuesday.
The owners decided with concerns over Zika it's best to not open right now. They want more information from health officials.
"Business is important, but ultimately at the end of the day the Wynwood Yard is a family and treats its team members as such," Trina Sargalski of Wynwood Yard explained. "Their well-being and safety, and the guests as well, is the first priority."
Many tourists visiting the area seem unconcerned about potential problems. One family from the Netherlands was already here when the latest Zika news broke. They just toured the Wynwood walls, and they did it doused in DEET.
"We use repellent. Miami is warm and hot, I got repellent I took with me," Belinda Sunnotel said.
Ramko Sunnotel added, "You can be afraid of anything, so we just came and we are enjoying the visit here."
Some arriving visitors have the jitters. The Tawil family is here for a funeral.
"I'm not really sure what to think. If we didn't have to be down here, we probably wouldn't," Jack Tawil said.
Related: CDC, State's Challenge To Battle Zika In Wynwood
On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an advisory that pregnant women should not travel to the area of Miami. Also, at the state's request, the federal agency said it was sending an "emergency response team," including experts on Zika, pregnancy, and birth defects, to help in the response.
The mosquito-borne virus generally produces mild symptoms. However, it is particularly dangerous to pregnant women because it can lead to severe birth defects, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and developmental problems.
British officials also have advised pregnant women and couples looking to conceive to avoid non-essential trips to all of Florida and to some other parts of the U.S. because of the risk of contracting Zika.
As state and federal disease prevention officials work in South Florida, Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said residents can do little things to help keep the virus from spreading. That includes trying to reduce the population of mosquitoes, which lay eggs in standing water.
"Everybody in the state has got to be active," Scott said. "You (have) got to get rid of standing water. You have to get rid of standing water. And you have to get rid of standing water. You won't have mosquitoes if they don't have any babies."
More than 1,600 cases of the virus have been reported across the continental U.S., nearly all contracted by people who traveled abroad or through sexual transmission.
A big concern for Florida is the frequency of travel between the state and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, where more than 4,500 cases have been reported, nearly all contracted through mosquitoes.
Putnam said Florida is in a better position to fight the virus than other areas impacted by Zika due to better infrastructure that includes air-conditioned buildings, unblemished screens, sanitation requirements and local mosquito control agencies.
"We're going to beat this," Putnam said. "We're going to move forward, and Florida is very much going to remain the state that is known for its exceptional outdoor activities and opportunities, and this will be just one of the more interesting chapters written about Florida."
Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.
(The News Service of Florida's Jim Turner contributed to this report.)
