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Three new cases of the Zika virus were confirmed this week in Williamson County, health officials said Friday. One of the patients was over 50 years old and the other two were under 50, said officials with Williamson County and Cities Health District. All three had traveled to Central America and the Caribbean, officials said. http://www.mystatesman.com/news/lifestyles/health/3-new-cases-of-zika-reported-in-williamson-county-/nr7KG/

Fri Jul 29, 2016 6:31pm EDTRelated: U.S., HEALTHExclusive: In Florida Zika probe, federal scientists kept at arm's lengthCHICAGO | BY JULIE STEENHUYSEN Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen inside Oxitec laboratory in Campinas, Brazil, February 2, 2016.REUTERS/PAULO WHITAKER/FILE PHOTO The state of Florida, the first to report the arrival of Zika in the continental United States, has yet to invite a dedicated team of the federal government's disease hunters to assist with the investigation on the ground, health officials told Reuters. Coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since the state reported possible local Zika transmission on July 19 has been conducted largely at a distance, they said. That is surprising to some infectious disease experts, who say a less robust response could lead to a higher number of infections. While Florida has a strong record of battling limited outbreaks of similar mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue and chikungunya, the risk of birth defects caused by Zika adds greater urgency to containing its spread with every available means, they say. Other states have quickly called in CDC teams to help track high-profile diseases. "You only have a small window. This is the window" to prevent a small-scale outbreak from spreading, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who expressed impatience with the pace of the Florida investigation. Florida on Friday said that four cases of Zika in the state were likely caused by mosquito, the first sign that the virus is circulating locally, though it has yet to identify mosquitoes carrying the disease. The current Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of the birth defect microcephaly, and has since spread rapidly through the Americas. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the state health department was working with the CDC as it continues its Zika investigation. CDC said it is closely coordinating with Florida officials who are leading the effort. Dr Marc Fischer, a CDC epidemiologist, has gone to Florida at the state's request. But the state has not invited in the CDC's wider emergency response team of experts in epidemiology, risk communication, vector control and logistics, according to Florida health department spokeswoman Mara Gambineri. In its plans to fight Zika nationwide, CDC stressed that such teams would help local officials track and contain the virus. Similar teams were sent to Utah earlier this month to solve how a person may have become infected while caring for a Zika-infected patient, before local officials went public with the case, and quickly joined an effort to contain an Ebola case in Dallas in 2014. "Should we need additional assistance, we will reach out," Gambineri said in an email. She did not reply to questions about why the state decided not to bring in a CDC team. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the agency has several teams ready for when states request help with Zika, including Florida. "If invited, we've got a team ready to go," he said. FUNDING BLAME GAME Florida health officials publicly disclosed the first case of suspected local transmission on July 19. They have since been testing hundreds of area residents to identify other possible infections, in some cases knocking on doors asking people to provide urine samples, and studying local mosquito populations to see if they are carrying the virus. The state has warned residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites, and distributed Zika prevention kits for pregnant women at local doctors' offices. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert from the University of Minnesota, said the two counties involved in the Florida probe – Miami-Dade County and Broward County - have extensive mosquito control experience. But he was surprised that the state had not yet sought CDC's help in quickly gathering information about where people were when they were bitten. "When cases like this occur, it's critical that there be rapid epidemiological investigations to determine the likely location where the mosquito exposure occurred," Osterholm said. "Only with that can you identify the breeding sites and eliminate them." As Zika's arrival in the United States loomed in recent months, Republican and Democratic leaders have blamed each other for holding up funding to fight it. President Barack Obama's administration asked Congress for $1.9 billion to fund a Zika response. Republican lawmakers proposed much smaller sums, and talks with their Democratic counterparts stalled before Congress adjourned for the summer. Scott, a Republican, said on Friday he had asked top officials in the Obama administration, including CDC Director Tom Frieden, for more resources to fight Zika. He has allocated$26 million from the state's budget. On July 20, the White House said that Obama had called the Florida governor to discuss the possibility that Zika was circulating in the state, and promised an extra $5.6 million in federal funding in addition to about $2 million provided by CDC. The statement praised Florida's record of responding to mosquito-borne outbreaks and its close coordination with federal partners, including the CDC. "Florida does what Florida does," said one public health expert familiar with the investigation. "If I were health commissioner, I would have asked for their (CDC's) help immediately." (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Bernard Orr) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-florida-cdc-idUSKCN1092MD?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=579c276d04d30141ef1f6b20&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

The Latest: Senator seeks reconvening of Congress over ZikaShare on FacebookTweet By: Staff The Associated Press Published on Fri Jul 29 2016ORLANDO, Fla. — The Latest on the Zika virus in Florida (all times local): 4 p.m. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is asking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reconvene Congress so lawmakers can pass an emergency spending bill to fight the spread of the Zika virus. Nelson sent McConnell a letter Friday after health officials confirmed four people in South Florida likely contracted Zika from mosquito bites. It is the first local transmission in the U.S. mainland. The Republican-controlled Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought for mosquito control, vaccine development and other steps to battle Zika. Nelson, a Florida Democrat, says the time is now for Congress to act. ___ 4 p.m. Some residents of the Wynwood neighbourhood of Miami say they plan to stop eating outside now that four people likely contracted the Zika virus from mosquito bites in South Florida. State officials on Friday pinpointed the cases to the Wynwood area, a trendyneighbourhood of art galleries and boutiques. Property manager Marlon Lizano says the news is scary. He regularly eats lunch outside but now says he will start eating indoors. Jenny Gray, who works for an art designer in Wynwood, says she is concerned and plans to start wearing bug repellant. ___ 2:20 p.m. Puerto Rico health officials are reporting a total of 7,296 Zika cases in the U.S. territory that include 788 pregnant women. Friday's announcement comes as Puerto Rico prepares to use the organic larvicide Bti to fight the mosquito-borne virus that can cause birth defects. Health Secretary Ana Rius said 74 people have been hospitalized including 23 diagnosed with a temporary paralysis condition known as Guillain-Barre that has been linked to Zika. She said all 78 of the island's municipalities have reported Zika cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that hundreds of children could be born with birth defects in the coming year. The agency said Puerto Rico is facing a silent epidemic because eight of 10 people have no symptoms. ___ 2 p.m. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has issued a statewide mosquito declaration following the news that South Florida has the first four cases in the U.S. mainland of the Zika virus transmitted by mosquito. Putnam said on Friday that the declaration allows aggressive mosquito-control efforts to be taken within at least a 200-yard radius around the home of someone who has gotten infected by a mosquito. Those efforts include spraying insecticide and chemicals that kill larvae and conducting mosquito surveillance. Putnam says Floridians should wear bug spray and drain bodies of standing water. ___ 1:50 p.m. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says the announcement that South Florida has four cases of mosquito-transmitted Zika virus isn't just a public health crisis but an economic one as well for the tourist-dependent state. Rubio said Friday during a campaign event in the Miami suburb, Doral, that the federal government needs to quickly distribute money to combat the spread of the virus. The Florida Republican says the news may make visitors think twice about coming to Florida. The state had 106 million visitors last year. Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought for mosquito control, vaccine development and other steps to battle Zika. Rubio is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate after dropping out of the U.S. presidential race earlier this year. ___ 1 p.m. President Obama's spokesman says Florida needs more federal money to limit the spread of the Zika virus. White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Friday's announcement that South Florida has four mosquito-transmitted cases should be a wake-up call for Congress "to get back to work." Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought for mosquito control, vaccine development and other steps to battle Zika. Schultz called that "regrettable." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has provided Florida $8 million in Zika-specific funding, and the White House has said the state can anticipate receiving another $5.6 million in Zika funding through a grant. ___ 1 p.m. An entomologist at the University of Florida says it's not surprising that no mosquitoes have tested positive for Zika even though four residents in South Florida have been found to be the first cases of mosquito-borne Zika virus in the U.S. mainland. Roxanne Connelly said Friday that finding positive mosquitoes is like chasing a moving target. Connelly talked about the difficulties in finding positive mosquitoes after Gov. Rick Scott confirmed that the three men and one woman in the Miami area likely contracted the virus through mosquito bites. Connelly says it can take a couple of weeks before an infected person starts exhibiting symptoms and by then the mosquitoes that transmitted the virus are dead. She says it's also difficult to determine where someone was infected, whether it was at home, at work or somewhere else. She says during a recent outbreak in the African nation Senegal, scientists tested 11,000 mosquitoes but only found 31 bugs that tested positive for Zika. ___ 11:30 a.m. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says potential visitors to Florida shouldn't think twice about coming to the Sunshine State. Jacob's jurisdiction covers the Orlando area's major theme parks in the Orlando area, and she spoke to reporters Friday after Gov. Rick Scott announced that South Florida has the first four cases of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes in the U.S. mainland. There have been no mosquito-transmitted cases in central Florida yet. But Orlando was the country's most visited metro area last year with 66 million tourists, and tourism is Florida's biggest industry. Jacobs says Florida's theme parks have some of the best mosquito control measures in place that she knows of and that the parks are safe. But she encourages visitors to take precautions such as wearing bug spray and getting rid of any standing water they may have. ___ 9:50 a.m. Florida's governor says the state has concluded that four mysterious Zika infections likely came from mosquitoes in the Miami area. Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that no mosquitoes in the state have tested positive for Zika. But he says one woman and three men in Miami-Dade and Broward counties likely contracted the virus through mosquito bites. More than 1,650 Zika infections have been reported in the U.S., but the four patients in Florida would be the first not linked to travel outside the U.S. mainland. Scott says health officials believe the infections occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami. Zika primarily spreads through bites from tropical mosquitoes. In most people, the virus causes only mild illness, but infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects for the fetus. http://www.metronews.ca/news/world/2016/07/29/the-latest-senator-seeks-reconvening-of-congress-over-zika.html

U.S. confirms Florida Zika cases are first local transmission in any state By Lena H. Sun and Brady Dennis July 29 at 4:40 PM Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Zika: 'The federal government needs to do their part' Play Video0:58 Florida Gov. Rick Scott on asking for aid to battle the Zika virus: 'This is a national issue, we're just at the front of it.' (Reuters)Florida and federal officials on Friday confirmed the first local spread of the Zika virus through infected mosquitoes in the continental United States. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) made the announcement following a state health department investigation into four suspected cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Scott said transmission was confined to a small neighborhood just north of downtown Miami and involved one woman and three men. “We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite," he said during a news conference. "All four of these people live in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and the Florida Department of Health believes that active transmissions of this virus could be occurring in one small area in Miami." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been closely coordinating with Florida and sent a medical epidemiologist at the state's request, made a similar announcement a short time later that left no doubt about the genesis of the cases. "These are the first cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the continental United States," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a news briefing Friday. "As we have anticipated, Zika is now here." Frieden praised state officials for responding rapidly with aggressive mosquito-control measures and a community-wide search for additional Zika cases. Because the virus can have devastating consequences for a fetus, the CDC recommends that pregnant women or women thinking about becoming pregnant postpone travel to Zika-affected regions. However, Frieden said no travel limitations in this country are currently warranted. "We don’t expect widespread transmission in the continental United States," he said. "That is not the situation we're in today." But if more people become infected despite ongoing mosquito-control measures, "this would be concerning and warrant further advice and action." The CDC will reassess daily and revise its recommendations accordingly, he said. The infections occurred in early July in a several-block radius of Miami's Wynwood neighborhood, a popular restaurant and entertainment area. The individuals became sick a week later and were diagnosed a few days after that. Strong evidence suggests that at least two of the people were bitten at work sites near each other in that area, Frieden said. Lyle Petersen, who is managing the CDC's Zika response, said the agency expects "there may be additional cases of ‘homegrown’ Zika in the coming weeks." Scott said state officials continue to "put every resource available into fighting the spread of Zika in our state," adding that Florida has been preparing for this type of situation for months, much in the way it prepares for hurricanes. "We know this virus is most detrimental to expecting mothers," he said. "If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and live in the impacted area, I urge you to contact your OB/GYN for guidance and to receive a Zika prevention kit. I also ask every Floridian to take proper precautions by eliminating any standing water and wearing insect repellent." [Without federal funding, counties brace for Zika on their own] The announcement had been expected since officials revealed a week ago that they were investigating a case of non-travel-related infection. They subsequently acknowledged an additional case in Miami-Dade County and two more suspected cases in neighboring Broward County. Frieden said Friday that all four individuals were infected in Wynwood but that two live in Broward County. No mosquitoes have yet tested positive for the virus, though. Frieden explained that confirming infections in mosquitoes is much harder than confirming them in people -- which is why there can be local transmission even in the absence of positive insect tests. Celeste Philip, the state's surgeon general and health department secretary, said officials have been successful in limiting transmission of similar viruses carried by the same mosquito species in the past and expect they will do so for Zika. "We believe at this time, the likelihood of ongoing transmission is low," she said. Yet the risk of a local Zika outbreak prompted the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday to direct all blood collection centers in Miami-Dade, Broward and surrounding areas to stop accepting donations until the blood can be tested for the virus. [FDA temporarily halts blood donation in two Florida counties over Zika fears] In a statement Friday, OneBlood, the main organization collecting blood in Florida said that, effective immediately, all blood collections in its service area in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina will be tested for the virus using an experimental donor-screening test. It said operations remain business as usual. Florida, Texas and other parts of the Gulf Coast are considered at highest risk for local spread of the mosquito-borne virus. The region is home to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for transmitting Zika. Both states have had local cases of dengue and chikungunya, related viruses that are spread by the same mosquito species. Florida already has 386 travel-related Zika cases, more than any other southern state. Of those, 55 involve pregnant women. Miami-Dade has 99 travel-related cases, the most in the state. Here's how mosquitos spread the Zika virus Play Video1:49 Stephen Higgs, director of Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute, explains the anatomy of a mosquito. (Kansas State University)Philip said transmission is confined to a one-square-mile area, which falls largely within the 33127 Zip code. Its boundaries are NW Fifth Avenue on the west, U.S. Route 1 on the east, NW/NE 38th Street on the north, and NW/NE 20th Street on the south. It is the only place where state officials are testing for local transmission. According to Census Bureau data, the area is home to about 30,000 people, many of them black and Hispanic. More than one-third of residents there are foreign-born, and more than 40 percent live below the poverty level. Officials have been spraying in targeted neighborhoods and trapping mosquitoes, as well as going door to door to interview and collect blood and urine samples from more than 200 people to test for the virus. They also distributed Zika-prevention kits and repellent to local obstetrician offices and at local county health offices. [CDC issues updated guidance for Zika testing in pregnant women] Karen Harris, an obstetrician who heads Florida's chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the news in recent days has been worrisome to clinicians and their patients. "There is huge concern," said Harris, who practices in northern Florida. One of the biggest challenges is that four out of five people infected with Zika won't have symptoms. "All the obstetricians have been very proactive with patients, but now we really have to step it up," she said. Adam Putnam, Florida's agriculture commissioner, said Friday that officials have tested more than 19,000 mosquitoes and have not found Zika. Even so, experts say finding a virus present in specific mosquitoes can be a needle-in-a-haystack endeavor. Widespread transmission is less likely because "there are significant differences in the residential neighborhoods between Florida and some of the other impacted countries,” Putnam said. He cited air conditioning and well-sealed houses with screens on windows. “Let’s be very clear about that," he said. "The opportunity for [mosquito] habitat in Florida, while Florida is a warm, wet, subtropical climate, is very different than the nations that have seen much, much higher incidence of Zika spread — largely because higher standards of living in the state of Florida." Scott said President Obama called him Wednesday and said the administration was going to send $5.6 million in aid to Florida to help in its Zika fight. To date, CDC said it has provided Florida more than $8 million in Zika-specific funding and about $27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used for response efforts. Still, Scott said the lack of federal aid thus far on Zika has been "disappointing." “I went to Washington and met with members of Congress to talk about the funding. I talked to the White House, the [health and human services] secretary," he said. "Congress didn’t fund, and they went on recess.” Congress left town in mid-July without finalizing legislation to combat the virus, much to the dismay of public health officials, infectious disease experts and children's advocates. Health officials have warned that the $589 million the Obama administration recently redirected from fighting Ebola to combating Zika is insufficient and that lawmakers' failure to approve new funding is delaying work on a vaccine, improved diagnostics to test for Zika and research on the long-term consequences of the virus during pregnancy. [Lifelong care, heartache ahead for babies born with Zika in the U.S.] "I would expect that Congress can do more to help us, as I’ve said all along,” Scott said. “The federal government needs to do their part. This is not just a Florida issue. This is a U.S. issue, it’s a national issue. We’re just at the front of it.” White House spokesman Erik Schultz said Friday that the president had been briefed on the finding in Florida and directed federal agencies to not only monitor the ongoing situation but provide resources and support. Schultz added that Congress should approve the administration's $1.9 billion request to combat Zika outbreaks in the United States. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who said the reports highlight the seriousness of the Zika threat, called for the House and Senate to return to Washington immediately to provide the needed funding. "Things will only get worse if Republicans continue their refusal to work with Democrats on a bipartisan response," he said. Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan, who represents a congressional district in southwest Florida, reiterated his call for full emergency funding for Zika. “We should be laser-focused on protecting the most vulnerable among us," he said. "Florida is ground zero for Zika.” Advocacy groups and others also urged Congress to act. “This is the news we’ve been dreading," said Edward McCabe, chief medical officer at the March of Dimes. "It’s only a matter of time before babies are born with microcephaly, a severe brain defect, due to local transmission of Zika in the continental U.S." In comments that seemed to be aimed as much at tourists as residents, Scott stressed how the state has successfully dealt with previous local transmission of dengue and chikungunya and how it will use the same approach now. "Florida is an outdoors state with pristine beaches, award-winning state parks and world-class fishing," he said, adding that the state continues to welcome visitors and remind them to take proper precautions and wear insect repellent. The virus is linked to microcephaly and other serious birth defects. Zika spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), but it can also be spread during sex by an infected person. Most people with Zika won’t have symptoms, but for those who do, the illness is usually mild. Federal health officials have said they would send a rapid-response team to any community on the mainland and in Hawaii where Zika begins to be transmitted locally — even if only a single case of infection is confirmed. The CDC also is prepared to deploy experts to help state and local authorities in monitoring cases, performing laboratory tests and increasing mosquito control as part of a multilevel response plan. The teams of 10 to 15 people will go if invited by the state. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/07/29/florida-announces-zika-is-likely-spreading-by-mosquitoes-in-the-continental-u-s-2/

Wynwood/Edgewater businesses to remain open despite Zika fearsJul 29, 2016, 2:27pm EDT Updated Jul 29, 2016, 3:02pm EDTNina LincoffReporterSouth Florida Business JournalRELATED CONTENTRoyal Caribbean stock sinks, other cruise lines fall with itP&G spoinoff signs Olympian to use its mosquito repellent in RioAlexandria doctor gets sports medicine job of a lifetime: Rio Olympics BIZSPACE SPOTLIGHTSPONSOR LISTINGProperty Spotlight: PV|303 - Arizona’s Rising Hub For Business ExpansionSee All Bizspace Properties A one-square-mile region that includes Miami's Wynwood, Midtown and Edgewater neighborhoods is likely where the Zika virus is being actively transmitted by mosquitoes, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday morning. The Zika-designated district is the only area where officials are testing local mosquitoes for the virus. The region is defined by Northwest Fifth Avenue on the west, U.S. 1 on the east, 38th Street on the north and 20th Street to the South. EnlargeA lab technician displays an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with Wolbachia bacteria in a… more DADO GALDIERI Florida is the only state to see locally transmitted Zika thus far, Scott said at the press conference. While the evidence for locally transmitted Zika is circumstantial, officials are taking all precautions. So far, no mosquitoes that have been tested have yielded a positive Zika result. Despite the Zika district designation, businesses remain open for customers. "The spread of Zika is of concern to everyone worldwide,” said Jessica Goldman Srebnick, CEO of Goldman Properties, and Joseph Furst, also with Goldman and chairman of the Wynwood Business Improvement District, in a joint statement. Goldman Properties is a real estate firm that has long been credited with the redevelopment of Wynwood. Wynwood and the surrounding neighborhoods have been transformed into a high-volume tourist destination that has attracted investment from groups across the country. “The community of Wynwood will do whatever is necessary to be vigilant in our prevention and will follow the guidelines outlined by the Florida Department of Health. Wynwood's restaurants, galleries, retailers and art-filled streets remain open for business,” Goldman Properties and WBID said in a joint statement. There have been four cases of Zika in Florida where the patients contracted the virus by a mosquito bite. All were in South Florida. Zika is a virus that produces relatively mild symptoms for most people. However, it has been linked to birth defects in newborns when a mother contracts the virus during pregnancy. "If you live in this area and want to be tested, I urge you to contact the county health department, which stands ready to assist you," Scott said. Miami-Dade and Broward counties will receive $1.28 million in state funds to combat Zika through the rest of 2016. “As with most emerging health threats, we learn more about Zika each day, but we recognize that the unknown can be scary, especially for pregnant women," Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip said in a statement. http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2016/07/29/wynwood-edgewater-businesses-to-remain-open.html

JUL 29, 2016 AT 6:04 PM Zika Has Made Its Way To Florida MosquitoesBy Anna Maria Barry-Jester Filed under zika When the news broke Friday that four people with Zika virus in southern Florida had likely been infected by mosquitoes in a tiny section of Miami — in what would be the first known Zika infection via mosquito in the continental U.S. — one of the editors here at FiveThirtyEight asked how sure officials could be that the Zika came from mainland mosquitoes. None of these winged menaces has been caught with the virus yet; shouldn’t we wait until that happens before drawing any conclusions? And, we wondered, why is the state only considering a small neighborhood an active risk for transmitting the virus? Finding mosquitoes with Zika is not an easy task. In Brazil, there have been more than 66,000 confirmed cases of the virus, which can be dangerous for pregnant women, who are at risk of giving birth to infants with neurological defects as a result of the infection. Brazil has had 1,687 confirmed cases of brain-related birth defects in newborns associated with Zika since the first case was identified in April 2015. But it wasn’t until May of this year that researchers found a mosquito in the wild that was carrying Zika. As Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a call with the media Friday, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Saying with certainty how someone with Zika acquired it is nearly impossible. Until now, most Zika cases reported in the U.S. have been in people who had traveled to or lived in a Zika-affected country. There have also been reported cases of sexual transmission. But in all four of the Florida cases — which were confirmed earlier this month — sex and travel have been ruled out as causes, according to the CDC, and public health officials are operating under the assumption that the infections took place in Miami. That the state investigation of active transmission of Zika is focusing on a narrow area just north of downtown Miami was striking as well. It mostly consists of a small neighborhood called Wynwood, a rapidly gentrifying area that’s home to art galleries, restaurants, bars, businesses and residences and thus attracts visitors from many parts of the city. Although the CDC and the Florida Department of Health have provided only limited information so far, Frieden offered some explanation for why they have homed in on that area. For two of the infected people, Wynwood is the only known location where their paths coincided. That connection and the fact that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, believed to be the main type that transmits Zika, travel a maximum of a few blocks in their lifetime have led state epidemiologists to believe the infection occurred in that area. Because Florida sprays for mosquitoes near the residence of anyone identified as having Zika, even those who acquired it abroad, the state has been spraying in Wynwood for several weeks. Frieden said that for now, health officials believe the risk in the neighborhood is under control; they will be concerned only if they start seeing more cases in a few weeks. Frieden stressed that we should expect to see more cases of locally acquired Zika in the future but that it’s unlikely that the U.S. will experience a major outbreak similar to those that Brazil and other Latin American countries have had. One reason may be that people here spend more time indoors with window screens and air conditioners than in those other countries. Also, past experience with viruses such as chikungunya and dengue show that the U.S. is not generally susceptible to major outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses. That is, of course, except for Puerto Rico, which has had locally acquired Zika since December. As of July 7, at least 5,582 people had been diagnosed with the virus there, including 672 pregnant women. Anna Maria Barry-Jester reports on public health, food and culture for FiveThirtyEight. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/zika-has-made-its-way-to-florida-mosquitoes/

Wynwood businesses bracing for Zika virusRestaurants such as Wynwood Kitchen and Bar remain cautious after Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that four Zika virus cases “very likely” spread out from the trendy Miami neighborhood. (Robert Duyos / Sun-Sentinel)Phillip Valys and Diane C. LadeContact ReportersWynwood businesses bracing for Zika virus. The Zika virus is keeping businesses in Wynwood on high alert, after Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that four cases of Zika infection "very likely" spread out from the trendy Miami neighborhood. "Wynwood's restaurants, galleries, retailers and art-filled streets remain open for business," says Jessica Goldman Srebnick, CEO of Goldman Properties, the developer behind Wynwood landmarks such as Wynwood Walls and the zebra-striped Wynwood Building. Srebnick, whose company also owns nearby Wynwood Kitchen and Bar, says she is "concerned" over Friday's news that four Zika cases were likely transmitted by local mosquitoes, after a two-week probe by state and federal health officials. Her businesses will follow whatever recommendations are given by the Florida Department of Health, but for now, Aug. 13's outdoor Wynwood Art Walk will go forward as planned. "The community of Wynwood will do whatever is necessary to be vigilant," Srebnick says. South Florida is the first place in the continental United States to have homegrown Zika, something researchers have been predicting for months eventually would happen, given Florida's climate and large mosquito population. 4 Zika cases in Broward, Miami-Dade likely came from Florida mosquitoes, Gov. Scott saysOn Friday, Gov. Scott listed the exact location of Zika transmission as occurring between Northwest/Northeast 38th Street to the north and Northwest/Northeast 20th Street to the south and between U.S. 1 to the east and Northwest Fifth Avenue to the west. Previously, all of almost 400 cases confirmed in Florida involved travelers who were infected while visiting Zika hot spots, primarily countries in the Caribbean and South and Central America. What's next? While officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday they weren't issuing travel restrictions for Florida at this time, they did advise everyone to avoid mosquito bites by wearing repellent and emptying containers of standing water where mosquitoes breed. Pregnant women especially are at risk, as Zika infections can cause severe birth defects in newborns. OneBlood to begin screening all donations for ZikaWary that mosquitoes are attracted to standing water, Wynwood Brewing Company is taking extra procautions in its beer-brewing process. Enrique Zittorino, the marketing manager, says he's ensuring the brewery's taproom and brewing facility are free of water puddles and open containers. "We're very aware of the whole Zika thing" Zittorino says. "We already have a strict policy about keeping areas dry, but at this point we'll do whatever the city and the fire department recommends. If they say, 'Hey, don't host events outside,' we'll do it." For now, the brewery says they won't cancel any outdoor events, and neither will Joey's Italian Café, which has patio seating on the sidewalk and behind the restaurant. "Right now, for lunch service, we have our customers sitting inside," says Liz Ibarra, the café's assistant manager. "We don't have any events coming, but we do have a happy hour this evening, which we may limit due to the Zika virus if our manager decides that." [email protected] or 954-356-4364 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/southflorida-dot-com/sf-zika-wynwood-businesses-cautious-20160729-story.html

JULY 29, 2016 9:50 AM Zika “active transmission area” in Miami, health department says FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL SHARE How Zika spreads (and who’s to blame) 1:13 FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL SHARE Miami-Dade mosquito-control workers scour county in fight against Zika2:04 FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL SHARE FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL SHARE 1 of 3The mosquito kills nearly 750,000 people each year. Malaria is the cause for the majority of these deaths, but a Zika outbreak has the Americas scared of this insect. This is how the insect spreads disease to its victims. Sohail Al-Jamea and Meta Viers McClatchyBY DAVID J. NEAL [email protected] LINKEDINGOOGLE+PINTERESTREDDITPRINTORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY Florida’s Department of Health announced there’s a “high likelihood” of four locally-transmitted cases of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade and Broward County, the first locally-transmitted cases in the United States, and “believes there’s an active transmission area” that includes Wynwood, Midtown and the Design District areas of Miami. The department defined the transmission area’s boundaries as U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) to the east; Northwest Fifth Avenue to the west; 20th Street on the south; and 38th Street on the north. “While no mosquitoes trapped tested positive for the Zika virus, the department believes these cases were likely transmitted through infected mosquitoes in this area,” the department declared in a news release. “The department is actively conducting door-to-door outreach and urine sample collection in the impacted area and will share more details as they become available. The results from these efforts will help department determine the number of people affected. These local cases were identified by clinicians who brought them to the attention of the department. In addition, blood banks in the area are currently excluding donations from impacted areas until screening protocols are in place.” Of the 331 cases of Zika the Department of Health separates by county, 99 come from Miami-Dade, more than the next two counties (55 in Broward, 40 in Orange) combined. Those numbers don’t count the 55 pregnant women confirmed with the virus. On June 28, Miami-Dade saw the first baby born in Florida with the Zika virus. The health department said the mother, a Haitian citizen, contracted Zika outside the United States. In a Friday morning news conference, Florida Governor Rick Scott said he’s written a request to President Barack Obama Zika preparedness items for Florida health departments. “I used my emergency executive authority to allocate $26.2 million in state funds for Zika preparedness, prevention and response in Florida,” Scott said. David J. Neal: 305-376-3559, @DavidJNeal http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article92563452.html Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article92563452.html#storylink=cpy

Gov. Scott: With Likely Mosquito-Borne Zika Cases, State Will Use Full Resources to Protect FloridiansOn July 29, 2016, in News Releases, by StaffORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has concluded that four cases of the Zika virus are likely mosquito-borne. DOH knows that the four cases are in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. One of these cases involves a woman and the other three cases involve men. At this time, DOH believes that active transmissions of the Zika virus are occurring in one small area in Miami-Dade County, just north of downtown. The exact location is within the boundaries of the following area: NW 5th Avenue to the west, US 1 to the east, NW/NE 38th Street to the north and NW/NE 20th Street to the south. This area is about 1 square mile and a map is below to detail the area. This is currently the only area of the state where DOH is testing to see if there are local transmissions of Zika. They are all active Zika cases and have not exhibited symptoms to be admitted to the hospital. Governor Scott said, “We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite. All four of these people live in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and the Florida Department of Health believes that active transmissions of this virus could be occurring in one small area in Miami. While no mosquitoes have tested positive for the Zika virus, DOH is aggressively testing people in this area to ensure there are no other cases. If you live in this area and want to be tested, I urge you to contact the county health department which stands ready to assist you. “Since our first travel-related case in February, Florida has taken an aggressive approach and committed state and local resources to combat this virus. Just like with a hurricane, we have worked hard to stay ahead of the spread of Zika and prepare for the worst, even as we hope for the best. Now that Florida has become the first state to have a local transmission, likely through a mosquito, we will continue to put every resource available to fighting the spread of Zika in our state. Last month, I used my emergency executive authority to allocate $26.2 million in state funds for Zika preparedness, prevention and response in Florida. I will continue to travel the state and speak with local leaders, ports and airports to ensure their needs are met. If it becomes clear more resources are needed, we will not hesitate to allocate them. “We know this virus is most detrimental to expecting mothers. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and live in the impacted area, I urge you to contact your OB/GYN for guidance and to receive a Zika Prevention kit. I also ask every Floridian to take proper precautions by eliminating any standing water and wearing insect repellent. “Following today’s news, I directed the Department of Health to immediately begin contracting with commercial pest control companies to increase spraying and mosquito abatement efforts in the impacted area. We know from our experience with successfully dealing with other mosquito-borne viruses in our state that through constant surveillance and immediate action that we will protect our families and visitors. We will continue this same approach as we work to combat the Zika virus in our state. Florida is an outdoors state with pristine beaches, award-winning state parks and world class fishing. We continue to welcome record visitors to Florida and will remind everyone in our state to take proper precautions and wear insect repellent.” Governor Scott has directed DOH to activate the Joint Information Center (JIC) within the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure impacted areas have coordinated access to information and resources. As part of this effort, Governor Scott has directed DOH to contract with commercial pest control companies to enhance and expand mosquito mitigation and abatement, including increased spraying, in the impacted areas. Governor Scott has also directed DOH to do the following response activities: Provide $620,000 to OneBlood, the primary blood bank in the area, to establish appropriate blood screening. DOH will be working with FDA and blood establishments in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties to test each individual unit of blood collected. Additionally, statewide DOH will ensure safe blood for pregnant women by screening units from counties without Zika.Work with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to issue a Mosquito Declaration and ensure that Mosquito Control in the areas of concern have the resources they need to combat further local transmission. Miami-Dade and Broward County Mosquito Control Districts will receive $1.28 million in state funds through December to combat Zika.Continue investigations in concert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure we learn all we can about Zika as an emerging disease.Coordinate with OB/GYNs and organizations that serve pregnant woman in the impacted area to distribute Zika prevention kits to pregnant women.Ongoing door-to-door outreach in the areas of concern with continued mosquito mitigation activities and repellant distribution.Partner with VISIT FLORIDA to distribute educational items, repellant and Zika Prevention Kits for pregnant women to visitor centers in the impacted areas.Partner with the Florida Department of Education to ensure that mosquito breeding source reduction and mitigation activities have occurred at all schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties ahead of children returning to classes this fall.Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam H. Putnam said, “We are dedicated to protecting Floridians and visitors from Zika and will continue to support mosquito control programs throughout Florida with their surveillance and control efforts. Floridians can do their part by draining standing water surrounding their homes, as it can serve as breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that are capable of transmitting the virus.” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip said, “As with most emerging health threats, we learn more about Zika each day but we recognize that the unknown can be scary especially for pregnant women. We’re committed to sharing as much as we can as soon as we can. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of all people in Florida and a big part of that is being accessible. If you have questions, please call the Zika hotline at 1-855-622-6735.” ### http://www.flgov.com/2016/07/29/gov-scott-with-likely-mosquito-borne-zika-cases-state-will-use-full-resources-to-protect-floridians/

4 Zika cases in Broward, Miami-Dade likely came from Florida mosquitoes, Gov. Scott saysCAPTIONFlorida Gov: '4 People Likely Have Zika As A Result Of Mosquito Bite'Florida Gov: '4 People Likely Have Zika As A Result Of Mosquito Bite' Zika virus in Florida: Everything you need to know FDA: Halt Blood Donations In Dade, Broward Amid Possible Zika Outbreak Florida DOH Investigating Possible Non-Travel Zika Case In Miami-Dade Florida wildlife wants more bat housesThe Associated Press Privacy Policy Mosquitoes have apparently begun spreading the Zika virus on the U.S. mainland for the first time, Florida officials said Friday in a long-feared turn in the epidemic that is sweeping Latin America and the Caribbean. Four recently infected people in the Miami area - one woman and three men - are believed to have caught the virus locally through mosquito bites, Gov. Rick Scott said at a news conference. No mosquitoes in Florida have actually been found to be carrying Zika, despite the testing of 19,000 by the state lab. But other methods of Zika transmission, such as travel to a stricken country or sex with an infected person, have been ruled out. U.S. health officials said they do not expect a widespread outbreak of the sort seen in Brazil and other countries. While officials have long predicted mosquitoes in the continental U.S. would begin spreading Zika this summer, they have also said they expect only isolated clusters of infections. More than 1,650 people in the mainland U.S. have been infected with Zika in recent months. But the four people in Florida are believed to be first ones to contract the virus within the 50 states from mosquitoes. Zika virus: Latest news and updates"This is not just a Florida issue. It's a national issue - we just happen to be at the forefront," Scott said. Florida agricultural officials immediately announced more aggressive mosquito-control efforts, and Florida politicians rushed to reassure tourists that it's still safe to visit the state. Some medical experts said pregnant women should not travel to the Miami area, especially if it involves spending time outdoors. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not recommending people avoid visiting South Florida. The virus is so mild that most people who are infected don't even know they are sick, but infection during pregnancy can cause babies to born with disastrously small heads and other severe brain-related defects. Health officials investigating two new possible local Zika cases in South FloridaThe four Florida infections are thought to have occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami, in the Wynwood arts district, the governor said. The area, known for bold murals spray-painted across warehouses, art galleries, restaurants and boutiques, is rapidly gentrifying and has a number of construction sites where standing water can collect and serve as a breeding ground for the tropical mosquito that carries Zika. People in Florida's Miami-Dade and Broward counties are being tested to learn whether there are more cases, the governor said. "If I were a pregnant woman right now, I would go on the assumption that there's mosquito transmission all over the Miami area," warned Dr. Peter Hotez, a tropical medicine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine. He said that while health officials have reported four infections, there are probably more that have not been diagnosed, and that people should not be surprised if mosquitoes are soon found to be spreading Zika in Louisiana and Texas as well. Earlier this week, federal authorities told blood centers in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale areas this to stop collecting blood until they screen it for the virus. Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC director, said the evidence suggests that the mosquito-borne transmission occurred several weeks ago over several city blocks. Zika primarily spreads through bites from a specific species of tropical mosquito that can also carry other diseases, including dengue fever and chikungunya. The mosquito is found in urban parts of the South. But it doesn't tolerate cool weather and won't be found in large numbers outside South Florida after the mosquito season peaks in August and September. So far, there have been than 4,700 cases of mosquito-borne Zika in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. The cycle of infection inside a country can start when a mosquito bites a traveler who has returned home from abroad with the virus still lurking in his or her bloodstream. The mosquito then bites someone else, spreading the virus. Health officials think that the U.S. should be able to avoid a major outbreak because of better sanitation, better mosquito control and more extensive use of window screens and air conditioners. Florida and other states have successfully fought off outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya in recent years. It's not unusual that no mosquitoes have tested positive for Zika, said C. Roxanne Connelly, a medical entomology specialist at the University of Florida and a past president of the American Mosquito Control Association. It can take a couple of weeks before an infected person shows symptoms, and by then the mosquitoes that transmitted the virus are dead, she said. "Believe it or not, it's difficult to find positive mosquitoes even when you're in the middle of an epidemic," Connelly said. "Sometimes you don't know where these people were infected. At home? At work? Where they were playing baseball?" Scott has allocated over $25 million in state funds for Zika response, and the White House and the CDC have provided over $10 million. However, Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought to battle Zika. White House spokesman Eric Schultz called that "regrettable" and said: "Today's news should be a wake-up call to Congress to get back to work." Zika-fighting efforts include pesticide spraying, setting of traps and eliminating standing water around homes. Marlon Lizano, a 40-year-old property manager, was eating outside at a restaurant in Wynwood when he learned it was apparently ground zero for Zika. "Oh, wow, that's actually kind of scary," he said, adding that he will probably continue coming to the area for lunch, but from now on, "I will eat inside for sure. " Jenny Gray, who is 27 and works in Wynwood for an art designer, said she will follow experts' advice to wear insect repellent. "I don't plan on having kids now, but I do sometime in the future. Better to stay protected," she said. "That really does concern me." But Phillip Lopez, a 34-year-old Wynwood resident who works at an outdoor bar and exercises outside, said: "It's a concern, but you got to do what you got to do. You can't not go outside." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/sfl-ap-four-zika-cases-florida-20160729-story.html

LATEST NEIGHBORHOOD ZIKA CARRYING MOSQUITOS THREATEN WYNWOOD WITH GENTRIFICATIONPOLITICS HILLARY CLINTON ASKS RUSSIA TO FIND TRUMP’S IRS RETURNS DURING CONVENTION SPEECHTRAFFIC ANGRY DRIVER TAKES FURY TO TWITTER, CRASHES CAR CAUSING MORNING DELAYSBUSINESS UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI TO OFFER INDENTURED STUDENT FELLOWSHIP NEIGHBORHOODZika Carrying Mosquitos Threaten Wynwood With Gentrification Milo Jul 29, 2016 0 CommentsDexter Oliveira, an 18-hour-old Zika carrying mosquito, is seated outside of Panther Coffee's Wynwood location. "My friends call me "Buzz", he says as he takes a sip of his chai tea latte, "but it's like an ironic nickname, you know?" Buzz is new to Wynwood, having arrived this morning after receiving word from his Brazilian cousin Rodrigo about the culture and entertainment Miami's art district has to offer, as well as the ready availability of feasting spots on the exposed backs, thighs, and navels of the district's native hipster residents. "I think Wynwood represents a wonderful opportunity for mosquitos like Buzz and me," said Rodrigo, the son of a wealthy Brazilian industrialist mosquito who was raised in a palatial larval housing outside of São Paulo. "We look forward to helping Wynwood grow," Rodrigo said before detailing his first local business venture: a luxury blood juice bar. "We will offer the community a completely organic, non-GMO assortment of different blood types," said Rodrigo, adding "$11 a cup, $20 a pint." But not everyone is happy with the arrival of Buzz, Rodrigo, and their fedora-wearing compatriots. Local resident Cassandra Davidson, who moved to Wynwood 8-months ago after graduating with a degree in marketing from Vassar, says the recent wave of mosquito immigration threatens to change the historic character of her neighborhood. "I'm not racist, but these mosquitos come here and bring disease and have absolutely no respect for the culture or community we built," said Ms. Davidson, "They aren't even learning to code." Ms. Davidson and other Wynwood residents also worry that the influx of wealthy mosquitos will raise housing prices and force her and her neighbors to leave their community. Several developers have already begun planning major developments that they hope will attract more Zika carrying mosquitos to Wynwood, including a 33-story luxury condominium and retail space which will house several billion mosquitos. "It isn't fair. This is our home," said Ms. Davidson as she unconsciously clutched her purse as 33-year-old African American Darnell McClintock, who had lived in Wynwood his entire life but was forced out after his landlord tripled his rent three-years ago, walked passed her table. "It just isn't fair." http://theplantain.com/zika-carrying-mosquitos-flock-to-wynwood/

Critical Mass: Zika Edition Crosses the Causeways Into Miami Beach TonightFRIDAY, JULY 29, 2016 AT 12:17 P.M.BY JERRY IANNELLI Hundreds of cyclists will roll through the heart of Miami tonight.Photo by George MartinezA AFacebook105Twitter-More shares0-It's the last Friday of the month, which means traffic across town will come to a screeching halt as hundreds of cyclists commandeer the streets. It's Critical Mass, the one night every month when Miamians who hate cyclists are forced to shut up. RELATED STORIESHere Are the Laws for Cycling in Miami, So Quit Arguing About ItMiami Is Deadly for Cyclists, and It's Only Growing More DangerousSix Cycling Tips for Beginners From My City Bikes MiamiAt 7:15 p.m., the ride will hit most of Miami's classic tourist destinations. After starting at Government Center in downtown, it will head northwest through the newly Zika-infested clouds of mosquitoes in Wynwood, hang a right onto NW 54th Street, shank left onto Biscayne Boulevard, and then cross into Miami Beach via the 79th Street Causeway. EXPANDFrom there, the ride will hang a right and snake all the way down Miami Beach along Indian Creek Drive and then cut across Dade Boulevard until it hits the Venetian Causeway. Once the ride reaches the mainland, it will loop back to Government Center, where everyone will presumably bike right back to Wynwood for beer. Given the fact that you can now catch Zika from Wynwood mosquitoes, you should wear a helmet and bug spray for the duration of the ride. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/critical-mass-zika-edition-crosses-the-causeways-into-miami-beach-tonight-8639893

Breaking: Miami’s Wynwood Arts District Is a Hotbed for ZikaFlorida Gov. Rick Scott confirms first four cases of Zika to be contracted within the U.S.By Michael Sainato • 07/29/16 12:20pm A building near Wynwood Walls during Art Week Miami 2015 on December 2, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Ger Ger/Getty Images) For months, both Democratic and Republican politicians have warned about the dangers posed by Zika in pleas for Congress to appropriate funding to fight the virus and support research. The World Health Organization called an international public health emergency earlier this year over Zika outbreaks in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The virus has been directly linked to cases of microcephaly, a neurological disorder which develops in the unborn fetuses of pregnant women, causing birth defects to children of mothers infected with the virus. President Barack Obama called for $1.8 billion in emergency funding to combat the virus, but despite bipartisan support, the dysfunctional U.S. Congress has yet to agree on a funding proposal. Americans have already begun to suffer from the political stagnation in funding efforts to fight Zika, as Florida Gov. Rick Scott confirmed today four cases in Florida contracted the virus from mosquitoes within the continental United States. “We learned today that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite,” Scott said in a press release. “All four of these people live in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, and the Florida Department of Health believes that active transmissions of this virus could be occurring in one small area in Miami.” A map outlining where Zika has been contracted in Miami. (Image: FLgov.com) According to the Center for Disease Control, 1,658 cases of Zika have been reported in the United States, but—until now—all of those cases were contracted abroad. Nearly 80 percent of those who contract the virus exhibit no symptoms, but those who do typically suffer a few days of fever, rashes, headaches, fatigue and muscle and joint pain. Relatively little is known about Zika, and there is currently no widely available test for the virus, aside from sending blood or tissue samples to a lab within the first week of infection. The type of mosquito best known for spreading the virus, the Aedes genus, is most common in the United States in Florida and along the gulf coast but has been documented as far north as Connecticut in hot weather, according to The New York Times. The virus has also been reported to transmit sexually, and although no reported cases have been contracted through blood transfusions in the United States, health officials are taking precautions to ensure the virus isn’t spread through blood donations. In addition to links with microcephaly in pregnant women, Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome. A study published in Lancet this February directly linked Zika with the rare neurological syndrome that can cause permanent paralysis and, in some cases, death. The study’s authors warned countries where Zika is spreading to prepare intensive care facilities to manage cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which are likely to increase as the outbreak spreads. The transmitted cases in Florida are believed to be confined to a small area north of Downtown Miami, in the popular neighborhood of Wynwood, just south of Miami’s Design District. According to an Observer editor who lives in the affected area, theZika hotline provided by the Florida Department of Health isn’t currently in service. The editor, a woman in her early 30s, called three times: The first two times she received a busy signal, and the third time she called the line rang for two minutes before disconnecting. Local, state and federal health officials are continuing to determine how many people may be infected. http://observer.com/2016/07/breaking-miamis-wynwood-arts-district-is-a-hotbed-for-zika/

Zika map with 3 cases who reside outside of Wynwood https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ

The Florida Department of Health has gathered enough information as part of its ongoing investigation into non-travel related cases of Zika in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to conclude that a high likelihood exists that four cases are the result of local transmission. At this time, the department believes that active transmission of the Zika virus are occurring in one small area in Miami-Dade County, just north of downtown. The exact location is within the boundaries of the following area: NW 5th Avenue to the west, US 1 to the east, NW/NE 38th Street to the north and NW/NE 20th Street to the south. This area is about 1 square mile and a map is below to detail the area. While no mosquitoes trapped tested positive for the Zika virus, the department believes these cases were likely transmitted through infected mosquitoes in this area. http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/07/072916-local-zika.html

Florida DoH issued a press release indicating all four of the local Zika cases (1 female and 3 males) had been infected by mosquitoes within a 1 square mile location in the Wynood area in Miami-Dade County. At least three of the cases resided outside of the area (index case lived in the Coral Gables area while the second case liver in Fort Lauderdale and the third case lived in Broward County. However, at least three of the four worked in the Wynwood area in at least two different work sites. The fact that the first reported cases of Zika mosquito transmission is not surprising. It is likely that at least two of the cases were symptomatic (since testing of asymptomatic local residents was not recommended) and it is likely that all four were symptomatic. Although transmission was in early July, confirmation would take several weeks because cases would have to develop symptoms, then have a doctor's visit, followed by sample collection, shipment, and lab confirmation. Since most Zika cases are asymptomatic, it is likely that asymptomatic cases were present in the area, and publication of the location will likely lead to more doctor's visit by symptomatic as well as asymptomatic pregnant cases who live,work, or visited the area.

Number of cases reportedCounty/Area TodayYear to Date (7/26-28/16)Albany03Broome01Clinton01Dutchess05Erie04Lewis01Monroe05Nassau330Niagara01Oneida02Onondaga05Ontario03Orange02Otsego01Putnam01Rockland06St Lawrence01Schenectady01Suffolk029Tompkins02Westchester214NYS (ex NYC)5118NYC21404NYS Total Confirmed26522NYS Pregnant Registry025NYS Total26547

25 in NYS Pregnancy Registry

No travel guidance at this time. Do not yet have explosive spread.

Different workplaces but near each other

Wynwood area popular but transmission was in early July

Blood bank for region started screening blood today.