Suspect Local Zika Transmission In Miami Dade Co Florida

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida health officials are investigating a Zika infection in Miami-Dade County that may be the first acquired within the state, according to an announcement late Tuesday.

Interactive feature: Daily Florida Zika virus tracker

Health officials reported they are conducting an epidemiological investigation in collaboration with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No details were provided regarding the potential mode of transmission. Zika is primarily transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, though the CDC has also reported cases of the virus spreading through blood transfusions, from pregnant mothers to their newborn children, and by sexual transmission.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article90617692.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article90617692.html

niman · July 20, 2016

JULY 19, 2016 6:54 PM

Miami may have Florida’s first locally acquired case of Zika virus

Epidemiologists are investigating Zika infection in Miami-Dade

State offered no details on how transmission may have occurred

Infection may be state’s first that wasn’t acquired by traveling outside country

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Miami-Dade County workers search communities to identify mosquito-breeding grounds and curb the potential spread of the Zika virus and other mosquito-related illnesses.Daniel Chang and Brittany Peterson [email protected]

BY DANIEL CHANG

[email protected]

Florida health officials are investigating a Zika infection in Miami-Dade County that may be the first acquired within the state, according to an announcement late Tuesday.

Interactive feature: Daily Florida Zika virus tracker

Health officials reported they are conducting an epidemiological investigation in collaboration with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No details were provided regarding the potential mode of transmission. Zika is primarily transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, though the CDC has also reported cases of the virus spreading through blood transfusions, from pregnant mothers to their newborn children, and by sexual transmission.

Florida health officials reported seven new cases of Zika infection on Tuesday, all acquired by people while traveling outside the country. The cases included three in Broward County, three in Orange County and one in Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade has the state’s largest number of Zika infections, with 88 people having contracted the virus this year.

Zika can be difficult to diagnose in part because only one in five infected people show symptoms, which include fever, joint pain, rash and red eyes lasting seven to 10 days.

While the CDC has not confirmed local transmission of Zika anywhere in the continental United States, evidence emerged this week that the virus is spreading in ways that are still a mystery to scientists.

On Monday, the CDC announced that epidemiologists are investigating a case in Utah involving a family member of an elderly man who contracted Zika while traveling outside the country and later died from complications of the disease after returning home.

CDC officials reported that epidemiologists are interviewing and conducting blood tests of the dead man’s family members and healthcare workers who may have had contact with the man, who died in June.

Health officials are also trapping mosquitoes in Utah and testing them for the virus to assess the potential for local transmission. However, the two species known to transmit Zika are not known to be present in Utah.

Florida health officials said Zika prevention kits and repellent will be available for pick up in Miami-Dade and distributed in the area under investigation, which was not disclosed. Zika kits are intended for pregnant women, the health department said. County mosquito control has already conducted spraying and other prevention efforts in the neighborhood being investigated.

Pregnant women and their children are considered to be at greatest risk from the disease. Researchers have concluded that prenatal Zika infection can cause microcephaly and other brain disorders. According to the health department, there are 43 pregnant women in Florida who have contracted the virus this year.

ZIKA CASES CONFIRMED IN FLORIDA AS OF JULY 19

County	Number of Cases
Alachua	5
Brevard	6
Broward	50
Charlotte	1
Citrus	2
Clay	3
Collier	4
Duval	6
Escambia	1
Highlands	1
Hillsborough	7
Lake	1
Lee	6
Manatee	1
Martin	1
Miami-Dade	88
Okaloosa	1
Orange	33
Osceola	15
Palm Beach	13
Pasco	5
Pinellas	7
Polk	10
Santa Rosa	1
Seminole	9
St. Johns	2
St. Lucie	1
Volusia	3
Total cases not involving pregnant women	283

Cases involving pregnant women regardless of symptoms*

43

* Counties of pregnant women are not disclosed.

Source: Florida Department of Health

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article90617692.html#storylink=cpy

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida investigating non-travel related case of Zika

By Emanuella Grinberg and Debra Goldschmidt, CNN

Updated 12:25 AM ET, Wed July 20, 2016

Zika-positive mothers face hard questions 02:48

Story highlights

Zika can cause birth defects and neurological issues
Florida has been closely monitoring the spread of the virus

(CNN)The Florida Department of Health said it is investigating a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County.

As of July 13, there have been 1,306 cases of Zika reported in the continental United States and Hawaii, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. None of those has been the result of local spread by mosquitoes.

The CDC said it is closely coordinating with Florida officials leading the investigation.

The Florida Department of Health is considering all known routes of transmission, including the possibility that it could be travel related, spokeswoman Mara Gambineri said.

Cases of infection through sexual transmission with someone who traveled to a Zika zone are counted as travel related.

Also, the CDC and Utah health officials are working to investigate how an infected person whose relative died from Zika contracted the disease. They have ruled out travel and sexual transmission. Although unlikely because the Zika-carrying mosquitoes do not live in Utah, officials are also considering local mosquito transmission.

Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly and other neurological deficits in babies born to mothers who were infected while pregnant. Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that results in babies born with abnormally small heads, causing severe developmental issues and sometimes death.

The virus is also linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks nerves. After it attacks nerves, it can lead to temporary paralysis.

Florida has been closely monitoring the spread of the virus, stepping up its mosquito-borne illness surveillance and mosquito control efforts. Seven new cases were reported Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 316, including 43 pregnant women.

The state has been monitoring pregnant women with evidence of Zika, regardless of symptoms, since January.

Gov. Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in February in counties with travel associated cases of Zika. It includes 28 counties.

The virus is widespread among mosquitoes throughout the Americas, and U.S. health officials have expected locally transmitted cases of the virus from mosquitoes, but not widespread transmission.

That's based on limited transmission of other similar viruses such as chikungunya and dengue fever in the United States, in part because of living conditions including air conditioning and window screens.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/health/zika-non-travel-case-florida/

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida Zika Case Could Be First Local Transmission In U.S.

There has yet to be a case of local transmission by mosquitoes in the continental United States.

07/19/2016 08:08 pm 20:08:03

(Reuters) - Florida health officials said on Tuesday they are investigating a case of Zika virus infection that does not appear to have stemmed from travel to another region with an outbreak.

The statement from the Florida Department of Health did not specify whether the Zika case was believed to have been transmitted via mosquito bite, sexual contact or other means.

The department said the case was reported in Miami-Dade County and that it is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an epidemiological study.

The department also reiterated guidance to Florida residents on protecting themselves from mosquitoes that may carry the virus.

“Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup ... and distributed in the area under investigation,” the health department said in a statement. “Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation.”

Zika, which can cause a rare birth defect and other neurological conditions, has spread rapidly through the Americas. A small number of cases of Zika transmitted between sexual partners have also been documented.

There has yet to be a case of local transmission by mosquitoes in the continental United States, though more than 1,300 people in the country have reported infections after traveling to a Zika outbreak area.

U.S. officials have predicted local outbreaks to begin as the weather warms, particularly in southern states such as Florida and Texas.

(Reporting by Michele Gershberg in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Bernard Orr)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/florida-zika-local_us_578eba1de4b07c722ebce011

niman · July 20, 2016

HEALTH

ZIKA VIRUS OUTBREAK

JUL 19 2016, 8:00 PM ET

Florida May Have Its First Zika Virus Outbreak

by MAGGIE FOX

Florida health officials said Tuesday they were investigating a possible case of Zika that wasn't carried back by a traveler.

If it's confirmed, it would be the first evidence that Zika has spread to mosquitoes in the continental U.S. All cases up to now have been in people who traveled to Zika-affected regions or their sexual partners.

Small, local outbreaks of Zika virus are fully expected in southern states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas. These states are home to the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that most commonly transmit the virus.

Brazil Continues Battle Against Zika Virus Ahead Of Olympic Games — Aedes aegypti mosquitos are seen in a lab at the Fiocruz Institute on June 2, 2016 in Recife, Brazil. Microcephaly is a birth defect linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus where infants are born with abnormally small heads. Mario Tama / Getty Images

"Today the Florida Department of Health announced that it is conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County," the health department said in a statement.

"The department is actively conducting an epidemiological investigation, is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and will share additional details as they become available."

Related: Is Deet Safe?

The CDC said it will help investigate.

"At this time, state and local officials in Florida are leading the investigation, and CDC is closely coordinating with Florida officials. To date, Florida public health officials have confirmed Zika infection through laboratory testing; upon request, CDC will conduct additional laboratory testing," the agency said in a statement.

Zika can be transmitted by mosquitoes and, less commonly, through sex. The CDC has predicted that a traveler would eventually be bitten by local mosquitoes and infect them with the virus. After about 10 days, an infected mosquito can then transmit the virus to another person.

But in the U.S., it's less common for people to live in the conditions that allow the virus to cause a full epidemic. So the CDC predicts any outbreaks would be limited.

"CDC has been working with state, local, and territorial health officials to prepare for the possibility of locally acquired Zika infection in the United States," the CDC said.

"To date, CDC has provided Florida more than $2 million in Zika-specific funding and about $27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used toward Zika response efforts. "

Related: Pregnant and Worried As Zika Approaches

The Florida health department said it would give out Zika prevention kits and repellant in the area under investigation. "Zika kits are intended for pregnant women," it said.

"Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation. Residents and visitors are reminded that the best way to protect themselves is to prevent mosquito bites through practicing good drain and cover methods."

Zika virus is most dangerous to pregnant women, because it can cause severe birth defects in babies if they are infected in the womb. It can cause rare complications such as the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome and very rarely can kill or help kill an already ill patient. An elderly man in Puerto Rico died last spring and Utah reported the death of an elderly patient with Zika last week.

Related: Zika Funding Battle "Inexcusable"

In Utah, a family caregiver of the patient who died was also infected with Zikaand officials there are investigating how it happened, since sexual transmission and mosquitoes can likely be ruled out.

The CDC's reported more than 1,300 cases of Zika in the continental U.S., all linked to travelers. Among them, 346 are or have been pregnant women. Nine babies have been born so far with Zika birth defects and another six were miscarried or aborted.

Health experts caution people in areas where Aedes mosquitoes live to use mosquito repellant, to drain even the smallest reservoirs of standing water in and around homes and to use screens to keep insects out of the house. The mosquitoes that spread Zika bite during the day and prefer to live in and around houses and other structures.

"It was only a matter of time before the right circumstances aligned in Florida," said Dr. Amesha Adalja of the University of Pittsbuch Medical Center's Center for Health Security.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/florida-may-have-its-first-zika-virus-outbreak-n612771

niman · July 20, 2016

Map Update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ

niman · July 20, 2016

Single_vehicle_accident_on_Gulf_Blvd_0_4

WPTV

MIAMI - The Florida Department of Health is investigating a possible non-travel-related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County.

RELATED: More Zika coverage

According to a news release, the department is conducting an epidemiological investigation in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control.

Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup at DOH-Miami-Dade and distributed in the area under investigation, the release said.

Zika kits are intended for pregnant women. Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation.

Residents and visitors are reminded that the best way to protect themselves is to prevent mosquito bites through practicing good drain and cover methods:

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent

• CLOTHING - Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
• REPELLENT - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
o Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
o EPA-approved repellent is safe for pregnant women to use.
o Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/officials-investigating-new-possible-case-of-non-travel-related-zika-virus-in-miami-dade-county

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida Health Officials Investigate Possible Case of Locally Acquired Zika

May be first instance of person getting disease from mosquito inside U.S.

By

BETSY MCKAY

July 19, 2016 11:06 p.m. ET

0 COMMENTS

Florida health officials are investigating a case of Zika in a person in Miami-Dade County who may have been infected locally rather than in an area outside the continental U.S. where the virus is known to be circulating.

If the person is confirmed to have acquired the virus locally, that could mean that it was transmitted by mosquitoes—possibly the first such instance of that occurring.

The Florida Department of Health said in a short announcement late Tuesday that it is “actively conducting an epidemiological investigation” together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the “possible non-travel-related case.”

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Lab tests in Florida confirmed the Zika infection, and the CDC said it would conduct additional lab tests upon request.

U.S. health officials have said they expect some transmission of Zika by mosquitoes this summer, particularly in southern states such as Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast, where the species of mosquito that can carry Zika is most commonly found.

But the CDC has said that it expects outbreaks would be limited, because most Americans live in air-conditioned residences that are spaced further apart than the homes in densely packed, poor neighborhoods where mosquitoes that are able to spread Zika thrive in the tropics.

Florida’s announcement comes one day after Utah health officials disclosed that they are trying to determine how a family member of a man who had been infected with Zika got the disease himself. The family member—identified as the man’s son, according to people familiar with the matter—didn’t travel to an area where Zika was circulating, nor have sexual contact with an infected person. He did care for his acutely ill father, however.

Regarding the Florida case, the CDC said it “has been working with state, local and territorial health officials to prepare for the possibility of locally acquired Zika infection in the U.S. Officials from Florida participated in all these activities, and their experience in responding to mosquito-borne diseases similar to Zika, including dengue and chikungunya, has been an important source of knowledge in this effort.”

The CDC said it has “provided Florida more than $2 million in Zika-specific funding and about $27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used toward Zika response efforts.”

Florida health officials said “Zika prevention kits” would be provided for pregnant women, as well as repellent for residents in the area under investigation. They said mosquito-control experts had already taken steps to reduce mosquitoes there.

Write to Betsy McKay at [email protected]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-health-officials-investigate-possible-case-of-locally-acquired-zika-1468983985

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida may have first non-travel related Zika infection in the U.S., officials say

Updated: Jul 20, 2016 - 5:32 AM

mosquito%20-%20james%20gathany_201607200 — Photo: CDC/James Gathany

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. —

Florida health officials say they are investigating a Zika virus infection that could be the first non-travel related case in the U.S.

As of July 13, 2016, there have been 1,306 confirmed cases of Zika in the continental U.S. and Hawaii, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All the infections have been travel related and none originated from local mosquito populations, the CDC said.

The case under investigation was reported in Miami-Dade County, officials said.

The virus is especially concerning because it can be passed from a pregnant mother to her unborn child, which can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, the CDC said.

The case in Florida is alarming because it doesn’t appear to be travel related or sexually transmitted, Florida International University infectious disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty said.

She expects the investigation by the Florida Health Department and CDC to be meticulous.

“All of those things have to definitely be ruled out now in this particular case,” she said. “In addition, they are going to have to do a very careful determination of where the individual lives, where they work and where they have been playing for the last couple of weeks.”

Scientists have not determined exactly how long the Zika virus can stay inside a person before they start to show symptoms, which will complicate the investigation, Marty said.

Health officials in Utah are also investigating a baffling Zika infection that does not appear to be travel related.

A Utah man who got Zika while taking care of his infected father has researchers scratching their heads.

Until now, experts thought the Zika virus could only be spread by mosquitoes and sexual contact with an infected person.

The man’s elderly father died in late June, the CDC said.

A blood sample taken after his death showed the amount of virus in his system was more than 100,000 times higher than what has been seen in samples from other infected persons, the CDC said.

In Florida, if the Zika infection is found to have been spread by local mosquitoes, the areas where that person may have been bitten will be thoroughly sprayed, Marty said.

Florida has one of the best mosquito control programs in the country and this isn’t the first mosquito-borne disease the state has contended with, she said.

Get more information on the Zika virus on the WFTV Zika Page.

http://www.wftv.com/news/local/florida-may-have-first-non-travel-related-zika-infection-in-the-us-officials-say/407733865?ecmp=wftv_social_twitter_sfp

ANDREW JOSEPH · July 20, 2016

Zika case in Florida could have come from local mosquito, a first in continental US

MARVIN RECINOS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

By ANDREW JOSEPH @DrewQJoseph

JULY 19, 2016

Health officials in Florida are investigating what could be the first case of mosquito-borne Zika transmission in the continental United States.

The state health department put out a brief statement Tuesday evening saying they were “conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case ofZika virus in Miami-Dade County.” The county already had 88 travel-related cases of Zika — the most in the state.

The virus can be transmitted through sex, as well as by mosquitoes, but the release did not mention that as a possible mode of transmission. The health department did not immediately respond to questions.

A

Zika, which is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has swept through much of the Americas since cases first emerged in Brazil last year. The virus typically causes no symptoms or only a mild illness. But it can cause serious birth defectsin fetuses when it infects pregnant women, including a condition called microcephaly in which the brain is underdeveloped and head is abnormally small.

There have been more than 1,300 Zika cases in the United States. Almost all of the patients were infected while traveling in a Zika-infected area. A handful of cases were the result of sexual transmission.

So far, there is no confirmed case of local mosquito transmission of the virus; Florida’s would be the first.

Federal authorities have a 58-page plan for responding to even a single local transmission.

The most likely route for local transmission is that someone who is infected while traveling returns home and is bitten by a local mosquito. If that mosquito becomes infectious itself, it can then infect other people it bites.

Still, most experts believe that any local spread of the virus will be contained, nothing like the wide spread that has been seen in Latin America and the Caribbean. Related viruses also spread by Aedes mosquitoes, including dengue and chikungunya, have had limited impact in the US, with just a few reported cases of local transmission of those viruses in Florida and South Texas.

People in the continental United States are generally less exposed to mosquitoes than in other regions thanks to screened windows, the use of air conditioning, and better home construction. Densely packed urban areas in the rest of the Americas also make it easier for a mosquito to infect several people.

In the continental United States, Aedes aegypti, the primary driver of the virus,are found in the highest numbers in southern states and along the Gulf Coast.

Florida’s health department said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its investigation and that crews have already launched mosquito control efforts in the area where the possible transmission occurred.

“Florida is the lead on an investigation involving a case of Zika in someone with no travel history to a country with active Zika transmission,” a CDC spokesman said. “CDC is consulting with Florida on the case.”

Helen Branswell contributed reporting.

https://www.statnews.com/2016/07/19/florida/

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida health officials investigating first possible non-travel Zika transmission

Published July 20, 2016

FoxNews.com

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. (AP)

Health officials in Florida said Tuesday that they are investigating the first possible non-travel Zika transmission.

The Florida Department of Health said the case was reported in Miami-Dade County and that it was working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an epidemiological study, according to Reuters.

The statement didn’t specify whether the case was believed to have been transmitted by mosquito bite, sexual contact or some other means. Officials urged Florida residents to take the proper precautions about protecting themselves from mosquitos that may have the virus.

"Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup ... and distributed in the area under investigation," health officials said. "Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation."

Signs of Zika have been found in blood, urine, semen and saliva. There's no evidence yet that the Zika infection in this case is an unusual mutation, but researchers are exploring that possibility through genomic analysis.

The virus causes only a mild illness in most people. But during recent outbreaks in Latin America, scientists discovered that infection during pregnancy has led to severe brain-related birth defects.

No cases of mosquito-spread Zika have been reported in the continental United States, according to the CDC. Health experts think mosquito transmission probably will occur in the U.S., but the expectation is that it will be in low-elevation, sweltering places where the insect has been a steady problem — such as southern Florida or southern Texas.

More than 1,300 Zika illnesses have been reported in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, including eight in Utah, according to health officials. Almost all were people who had traveled to Zika outbreak countries and caught the virus there.

Fourteen were people who had not traveled to Zika zones but had sex with someone who had.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/20/florida-health-officials-investigating-first-possible-non-travel-zika-transmission.html

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida probes 'non-travel' related case of Zika

MENAFN - AFP - 20/07/2016


No. of Ratings : 0

(MENAFN - AFP) Florida health officials said they are investigating a potential case of Zika infection that was not contracted by someone traveling to a region affected by the mosquito-borne virus.

Until now, there has been no sign that mosquitoes carrying Zika have arrived in the continental US, but officials have warned that the possibility was looming. The US territory of Puerto Rico has seen a spike in cases in recent months.

It was not immediately clear whether the Florida case involved mosquito bites or sexual contact, since both are known routes of transmission.

The Florida Health Department "is conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County," it said in a statement.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Florida had confirmed a Zika infection, and that the CDC is "closely coordinating with Florida officials," according to a statement sent to AFP.

The CDC said federal authorities would, upon request, "conduct additional laboratory testing."

As of mid-July, there have been 1,306 cases of Zika in the continental United States, nearly all involving people who had traveled to areas in Latin America and the Caribbean basin that are affected by the current outbreak.

Fourteen of the cases were transmitted by sexual contact between those who had traveled and their US-based partners.

Earlier this week, a case emerged in Utah in which a caregiver appeared to have been infected by an elderly patient, though the exact route of transmission remains unknown.

- Birth defects -

Zika is a concern because if a pregnant woman is infected, she faces a higher risk of bearing a child with microcephaly, in which the skull and brain are malformed and smaller than normal.

The "CDC has been working with state, local, and territorial health officials to prepare for the possibility of locally acquired Zika infection in the United States," the agency said.

"To date, CDC has provided Florida more than 2 million in Zika-specific funding and about 27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used toward Zika response efforts."

The Florida Department of Health said Zika prevention kits and repellent would be available for pickup at the health department and distributed in the area being studied.

"Zika kits are intended for pregnant women," the health department said.

"Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation."

Zika virus can cause a variety of symptoms, including rash and joint and muscle pain, but often carries no symptoms at all.

Zika can also trigger Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which leads the immune system to attack the nerves and may lead to paralysis.

Zika virus was first identified in 1947 but is poorly understood, and there remains no vaccine to prevent it or medicine to treat it.

Officials urge pregnant women to avoid traveling to Zika-affected areas and to wear mosquito repellent to reduce the risk of being bitten.

Condoms or abstinence are also recommended to reduce the risk of infection by people traveling to or living in places where Zika is circulating.

http://www.menafn.com/1094863472/Florida-probes-nontravel-related-case-of-Zika

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida probes possible case of Zika in Miami area

Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY10:51 p.m. EDT July 19, 2016

The Florida Department of Health is joining with theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate a possible non-travel-related case of the deadly Zika virus in the Miami - Dade County area.

Along with the epidemiological investigation, the state agency is making available repellent and prevention kits for pregnant women at its headquarters in Miami-Dade and throughout the affected area.

Residents are asked to follow the following precautions:

Drain standing water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets and other areas so that mosquitos don't multiply
Get rid of old tires, bottles, drums, broken appliances and other unused items
Cover boats and vehicles with tarp that does not collect water
Empty and wash pet water bowls and birdbaths
Keep swimming pools chlorinated
Wear protective clothing that covers arms and legs as protection against mosquitos
Always use repellent
Cover doors and window with screens

The Zika virus is spread via mosquitos and can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and cause birth defects, according to the CDC. There is no vaccine or medication for it, the agency reports.

The outbreak started in Brazil last year.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/07/19/florida-probes-possible-case-zika-miami-area/87325658/

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida investigates possible first case of indigenous zika

Source: EFE 20/07/2016 6:01 a.m.

b0e505a378f445efb66219d28b875da0 — agencies

The Government of Florida (USA) discussed on Wednesday a possible first case of indigenous zika in the state, which so far have been reported 326 patients with the virus, including 43 pregnant women.

The infected person under investigation corresponds to Miami-Dade county where has been detected most cases, with 88 in total until today, the Florida Department of Health reported.

The state agency said that works in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC in English) in the epidemiological investigation.

The other most affected counties in Florida, where state have so far been presented only cases infected people who traveled abroad, are Broward, with 50 infected and Orange, with 33.

Last week the CDC reported the first documented case of sexual transmission of zika of a woman to a man, who until now had only checked in the opposite direction.

The case, registered in New York (USA), extends the risk of sexual transmission so far known to zika virus.

On the other hand, the CDC recommends that pregnant women not to travel to affected areas because of the risk that in case of infection, the fetus will develop serious complications, such as microcephaly.

Also advise travelers returning to the United States from an area with presence of zika, and although they have not experienced symptoms of the disease, to take measures to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks, not spread the virus by this track.

Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, although contagion has also proven through body fluids such as urine, blood, semen and amniotic fluid.

http://globovision.com/article/florida-investiga-posible-primer-caso-de-zika-autoctono

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida is checking possible local case of Zika

By Lena H. Sun July 19 at 9:00 PM

The Florida health department said late Tuesday that it is investigating what could be the first case of locally spread Zika virus in the continental United States.

In a brief statement, the department said it is "actively conducting an epidemiological investigation" of a non-travel-related case in Miami-Dade County in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The statement said additional details would be shared as they become available.

The CDC said the state is the lead on the case, which involves someone with no travel history to a country with active Zika transmission. Florida public health officials have confirmed Zika infection through laboratory testing.

Florida, Texas and other parts of the Gulf Coast are considered at highest risk of local transmission of the mosquito-borne virus. The region is home to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for transmitting Zika. Florida has also had local cases of dengue and chikungunya, related viruses that are spread by the same mosquito species. Florida already has 326 travel-related Zika cases, including 88 in Miami-Dade, the most in the state.

None of the 1,306 cases of Zika that have been reported so far in the continental United States and Hawaii have been the result of local mosquitoes.

But health officials have been bracing for local transmission of Zika across the South and parts of the Southwest during the peak summer months. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has repeatedly appealed to the Obama administration for additional resources so his state could be prepared when cases began to surface.

In a statement late Tuesday, the CDC said it has provided Florida more than $2 million in Zika-specific funding and about $27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used toward Zika response efforts.

The virus can also be spread through sexual contact, but the health department statement did not specify how the individual involved was believed to have been infected.

"We're looking into all non-travel related transmission at this point," said Mara Gambineri, a health department spokeswoman.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Zika virus and its spread across North and South America. (Daron Taylor, Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

The statement said the department would be providing Zika prevention kits and repellent in the county and in the area of investigation.

Congress left town last week 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 redirected from fighting Ebola to combating Zika this year is insufficient and that lawmakers' failure to approve new funding is holding up work on a vaccine, improved diagnostics to test for Zika and research on the long-term consequences of the virus during pregnancy.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan wrote Republican leaders last week saying that the inaction on a Zika package "will significantly impede the Administration’s ability to prepare for and respond to a possible local transmission in the United States and Hawaii and address a growing health crisis in Puerto Rico.”

The Florida news comes one day after Utah officials said they were investigating possible person-to-person transmission from an elderly man to a caregiver.

Most people infected with Zika have no symptoms or only mild ones. But the virus can cause severe birth defects in pregnant women, including microcephaly, a rare condition characterized by an abnormally small head and serious brain damage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/07/19/florida-is-checking-possible-local-case-of-zika/?postshare=3711469012060283&tid=ss_tw-bottom

niman · July 20, 2016

Authorities investigate possible case of zika contracted in Florida

Health authorities in Florida, the US Southeast, announced that they are considering a probable case Zika who have been contracted locally and not through travel to one of the areas infected by the virus.

Health services of Florida "are actively conducting an epidemiological investigation," according to a statement from the Health Department in Florida, released on Tuesday, after a possible case have arisen in Miami-Dade.

So far there is no evidence that mosquitoes "aedes aegypti" vectors of Zika virus, have come to the continental United States, but health officials have warned that this possibility is imminent.The US territory of Puerto Rico recorded an increase in cases in recent months.

The statement said also that 'kits' prevention of the virus as well as anti mosquito products will be available in health services and be distributed in the area under observation.

"The 'kits' Zika are intended for pregnant women," said health services.

The fight against mosquitoes service "has carried out reduction actions and prevention in the area concerned," explained the health department of Florida.

In mid-July, US health officials had recorded 1,306 cases of Zikano continental United States and Hawaii.

None of these cases resulted from a mosquito bite occurred in this area. Fourteen of these individuals were infected via sexual intercourse and another by accidental contact with a blood sample in the laboratory.

The Zika virus can cause a variety of symptoms including skin rash, muscle and joint pain, but in most cases, the infection goes unnoticed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicted a sharp growth of the outbreak in the Americas, with up to four million people infected.

The virus spread rapidly in Latin America, with a large number of cases in Brazil.

The Zika virus is present in 60 countries and Brazil is the country most affected by the current epidemic, with 1.5 million registered cases.

The Zika is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and there is no treatment or vaccine for the disease.

On Tuesday, a Canadian university announced that it will conduct the first test in the world in humans a vaccine against the Zika virus.

The vaccine that is being developed will be administered to human beings "in the coming days," according to a statement from the University of Laval, located in Quebec City, in the province of the same name.

"We are very proud to be part of the first international team in the world to complete all stages of the regulatory process" of the vaccine, said Gary Kobinger, PhD in microbiology and professor of medicine at the university, which is overseeing the study.

Kobinger stressed that the development of this vaccine Zika was authorized by regulatory agencies of the sector in Canada (Health Canada) and the United States (FDA).

http://www.dn.pt/mundo/interior/autoridades-investigam-possivel-caso-de-zika-contraido-na-florida-5295323.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

niman · July 20, 2016

Zika Investigated in Florida; Possible First Homegrown Case in U.S.

By SABRINA TAVERNISEJULY 19, 2016

The Florida Department of Health said Tuesday that it was investigating what could be the first homegrown case of the Zika virus in the United States.

The department said in a statement that it was investigating a “possible non-travel-related” case in Miami-Dade County. The department is “actively conducting an epidemiological investigation” and is collaborating with theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the statement said. No further details were available.

It would be the first time the Zika virus had been transmitted locally by mosquitoes in the United States. There are about 1,300 cases of Zika in the continental United States; nearly all were contracted by a mosquito bite abroad or through sex with someone who had become infected in another country.

The virus, which has spread rapidly in Latin America and the Caribbean, can cause birth defects and brain damage in babies born to women infected with it during pregnancy.

The C.D.C. said in a statement that public health officials in Florida had confirmed the Zika infection through laboratory testing. The agency said it would conduct additional laboratory testing if the state asked for it.

Edited July 20, 2016 by niman

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida Investigating Whether Zika Case Came From Local Mosquito

If confirmed, it could be the beginning of a U.S.-based outbreak.

posted on Jul. 20, 2016, at 7:53 a.m.

Virginia Hughes

BuzzFeed News Science Editor

sub-buzz-7635-1469013815-1.jpg?resize=72

Felipe Dana / AP

On Tuesday evening, Florida health officials announced that they are investigating what could be the first case of Zika in the continental U.S. that did not come from people traveling to other regions affected by the virus.

The officials did not say whether the new case, in Miami-Dade County, came from a mosquito bite or sexual transmission. (Miami-Dade has reported 88 other Zika casesthat have come from travelers.) If it’s confirmed to have come from a local mosquito, it could be the beginning of a U.S.-based outbreak.

In February, after Zika had caused a mysterious cluster of brain defects in babies in Brazil, the WHO announced a global public health emergency. Now, with the Rio Olympics looming, many athletes have decided not to attend, despite the fact that the winter season in Brazil means that mosquitos will be curbed and the virus unlikely to spread widely there.

Even if the Florida case means that local mosquitoes are indeed spreading Zika, U.S. health officials have predicted that the disease isn’t likely to be as problematic in the U.S. as it has been in other countries because of screened windows and air conditioning.

Florida is working with the CDC to further understand the new case.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/virginiahughes/florida-investigating-zika-case?bftw&utm_term=.xxBnl9KYJ#.jiyJk70yA

niman · July 20, 2016

Non_travel_related_case_of_Zika_investig

WPTV

MIAMI - The Florida Department of Health is investigating a possible non-travel-related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County.

RELATED: More Zika coverage

According to a news release, the department is conducting an epidemiological investigation in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control.

Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup at DOH-Miami-Dade and distributed in the area under investigation, the release said.

Zika kits are intended for pregnant women. Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation.

Residents and visitors are reminded that the best way to protect themselves is to prevent mosquito bites through practicing good drain and cover methods:

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent

• CLOTHING - Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
• REPELLENT - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
o Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
o EPA-approved repellent is safe for pregnant women to use.
o Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house

• Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.

http://www.wptv.com/news/state/officials-investigating-new-possible-case-of-non-travel-related-zika-virus-in-miami-dade-county

niman · July 20, 2016

Zika outbreak: possible local transmission in Florida investigated

Potential first homegrown case of Zika virus in continental U.S.

CBC News Posted: Jul 20, 2016 9:30 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 20, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Evaristo Miqueli, a natural resources officer in Florida, looks through a microscope at Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae in June in Florida. Health officials in the state are distributing Zika prevention kits and repellent. (Lynne Sladky/Associated Press)

Florida health officials said they are investigating a case of Zika virus infection that does not appear to have stemmed from travel to another region with an outbreak.

Tuesday's statement from the Florida Department of Health did not specify whether the Zika case was believed to have been transmitted via mosquito bite, sexual contact or other means.

The department said the case was reported in Miami-Dade County and that it is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an epidemiological study.

The department also reiterated guidance to Florida residents on protecting themselves from mosquitoes that may carry the virus.

"Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup … and distributed in the area under investigation," the health department said in a statement. "Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation."

Zika, which can cause a rare birth defect and other neurological conditions, has spread rapidly through the Americas. A small number of cases of Zika transmitted between sexual partners have also been documented.

There has yet to be a case of local transmission by mosquitoes in the continental United States, though more than 1,300 people in the U.S. have reported infections after traveling to a Zika outbreak area.

U.S. officials have predicted local outbreaks to begin as the weather warms, particularly in southern states such as Florida and Texas.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-florida-1.3686868?cmp=rss

niman · July 20, 2016

July 19, 2016

Department of Health

Investigating Possible Non-Travel Related Case of Zika

Contact:
Communications Office
[email protected]
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today the Florida Department of Health announced that it is conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County.

The department is actively conducting an epidemiological investigation, is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and will share additional details as they become available. Zika prevention kits and repellant will be available for pickup at DOH-Miami-Dade and distributed in the area under investigation. Zika kits are intended for pregnant women. Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation.

Residents and visitors are reminded that the best way to protect themselves is to prevent mosquito bites through practicing good drain and cover methods:

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying

Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.

Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.

Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.

Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.

Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent

CLOTHING - Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.

REPELLENT - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- EPA-approved repellent is safe for pregnant women to use.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house

Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.

The department continues to issue daily updates each week day at 2 p.m. Updates include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared.

For more information on Zika virus, click here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/07/071916-investigating-possible-non-travel-related-case-zika.html

niman · July 20, 2016

Zika outbreak in Florida? Miami reports first case of virus NOT related to travel

Miami resident has contracted Zika without visiting a region with the virus
Health officials have launched an investigation, could mark first outbreak
The virus is spread via Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and sex
Until now, there is no known sign that Zika-carrying mosquitoes are in US
Utah has also launched investigation into non-travel-related infection

By MIA DE GRAAF FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and AFP

PUBLISHED: 07:34 EST, 20 July 2016 | UPDATED: 08:37 EST, 20 July 2016

1

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Florida has reported America's first homegrown Zika infection.

A patient in Miami has contracted the virus despite not traveling to a region affected by Zika, health officials revealed on Wednesday.

It could mean that, after months of looming fears, mosquitoes carrying the infection have arrived in continental US.

Utah is also investigating a non-travel-related case after the carer of an elderly man who died of Zika contracted the virus.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

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A New Yorker has become the first woman known to infect a man with Zika (pictured) through sex

It was not immediately clear whether the Miami case involved mosquito bites or sexual contact, since both are known routes of transmission.

The Florida Health Department 'is conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County,' it said in a statement.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Florida had confirmed a Zika infection, and that the CDC is 'closely coordinating with Florida officials,' according to a statement.

The CDC said federal authorities would, upon request, 'conduct additional laboratory testing.'

As of mid-July, there have been 1,306 cases of Zika in the continental United States, nearly all involving people who had traveled to areas in Latin America and the Caribbean basin that are affected by the current outbreak.

Fourteen of the cases were transmitted by sexual contact between those who had traveled and their US-based partners.

The US territory of Puerto Rico has also seen a spike in cases in recent months.

Earlier this week, a case emerged in Utah in which a caregiver appeared to have been infected by an elderly patient, though the exact route of transmission remains unknown.

Zika is a concern because if a pregnant woman is infected, she faces a higher risk of bearing a child with microcephaly, in which the skull and brain are malformed and smaller than normal.

The 'CDC has been working with state, local, and territorial health officials to prepare for the possibility of locally acquired Zika infection in the United States,' the agency said.

'To date, CDC has provided Florida more than $2 million in Zika-specific funding and about $27 million in emergency preparedness funding that can be used toward Zika response efforts.'

The Florida Department of Health said Zika prevention kits and repellent would be available for pickup at the health department and distributed in the area being studied.

'Zika kits are intended for pregnant women,' the health department said.

'Mosquito control has already conducted reduction and prevention activities in the area of investigation.'

Zika virus can cause a variety of symptoms, including rash and joint and muscle pain, but often carries no symptoms at all.

It can also trigger Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which leads the immune system to attack the nerves and may lead to paralysis.

The virus was first identified in 1947 but is poorly understood, and there remains no vaccine to prevent it or medicine to treat it.

Officials urge pregnant women to avoid traveling to Zika-affected areas and to wear mosquito repellent to reduce the risk of being bitten.

Condoms or abstinence are also recommended to reduce the risk of infection by people traveling to or living in places where Zika is circulating.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ZIKA

WHAT IS ZIKA?

The Zika (ZEE'-ka) virus was first discovered in monkey in Uganda in 1947 - its name comes from the Zika forest where it was first discovered.

It is native mainly to tropical Africa, with outbreaks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

It appeared in Brazil in 2014 and has since been reported in many Latin American countries and Caribbean islands.

+2

The World Health Organization says Zika is rapidly spreading in the Americas because it is new to the region, people aren't immune to it, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries it is just about everywhere

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

It is typically transmitted through bites from the same kind of mosquitoes - Aedes aegypti - that can spread other tropical diseases, like dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Scientists have found Zika can be transmitted sexually. The World Health Organisation recently warned the mode of transmission is 'more common than previously assumed'.

Couples should abstain or wear condoms for eight weeks if either partner has traveled to a country with a Zika outbreak, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

During the current outbreak, the first case of sexually transmitted Zika was reported in Texas, at the beginning of February.

The patient became infected after sexual contact with a partner diagnosed with the virus after travelling to an affected region.

Now, health officials in the US are investigating more than a dozen possible cases of Zika in people thought to be infected during sex.

There are also reported cases in France and Canada.

Prior to this outbreak, scientists reported examples of sexual transmission of Zika in 2008.

A researcher from Colorado, who caught the virus overseas, is thought to have infected his wife, on returning home.

And records show the virus was found in the semen of a man in Tahiti.

On Friday July 15, it was confirmed that women can pass the virus to men after such a case was seen in New York City.

The World Health Organization says Zika is rapidly spreading in the Americas because it is new to the region, people aren't immune to it, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries it is just about everywhere - including along the southern United States.

Canada and Chile are the only places without this mosquito.

ARE THERE SYMPTOMS?

The majority of people infected with Zika virus will not experience symptoms.

Those that do, usually develop mild symptoms - fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes - which usually last no more than a week.

There is no specific treatment for the virus and there is currently no vaccine to protect against infection, though several are in the developmental stages.

WHY IS IT A CONCERN NOW?

In Brazil, there has been mounting evidence linking Zika infection in pregnant women to a rare birth defect called microcephaly, in which a newborn's head is smaller than normal and the brain may not have developed properly.

Brazilian health officials last October noticed a spike in cases of microcephaly in tandem with the Zika outbreak.

The country said it has confirmed more than 860 cases of microcephaly - and that it considers them to be related to Zika infections in the mother.

Brazil is also investigating more than 4,200 additional suspected cases of microcephaly.

However, Brazilian health officials said they had ruled out 1,471 suspected cases in the week ending March 19.

Now Zika has been conclusively proven to cause microcephaly.

The WHO also stated that researchers are now convinced that Zika is responsible for increased reports of a nerve condition called Guillain-Barre that can cause paralysis.

A team of Purdue University scientists recently revealed a molecular map of the Zika virus, which shows important structural features that may help scientists craft the first treatments to tackle the disease.

The map details vital differences on a key protein that may explain why Zika attacks nerve cells - while other viruses in the same family, such as dengue, Yellow Fever and West Nile, do not.

CAN THE SPREAD BE STOPPED?

Individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents, and wearing long sleeves and long pants - especially during daylight, when the mosquitoes tend to be most active, health officials say.

Eliminating breeding spots and controlling mosquito populations can help prevent the spread of the virus.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3699331/Zika-outbreak-Florida-State-reports-case-virus-NOT-related-travel.html#ixzz4ExO3hUN3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

niman · July 20, 2016

Florida investigates first possible Zika infection within the United States

Samples of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, responsible for transmitting dengue and Zika CREDIT: FELIPE DANA

Florida health officials are investigating what they believe could be the first case of the Zika virus being transmitted by a mosquito within the United States.

Until now, all of the 1,306 confirmed cases of Zika in the US have been in people who travelled to infected areas – except for 14 who caught it sexually, and one person infected in a lab.

On Monday, however, the first possible case of non-sexual human-to-human transmission was being investigated. Health experts in Utah were puzzling over the case of a person who tested positive for the virus, having cared for an elderly Zika-infected relative who died in June.

Neither of the two types of mosquito known to carry Zika - Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus - are found in Salt Lake County, and there was no sexual contact.

Zika outbreak: how the virus has spread - in 90 secondsPlay!01:32

The Florida department of health said in a statement, issued on Tuesday evening: “Today the Florida Department of Health announced that it is conducting an investigation into a possible non-travel related case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County.

“The department is actively conducting an epidemiological investigation, is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and will share additional details as they become available.”

If the Florida case is confirmed, it will mark a worrying milestone in the progression of a virus which has caused more than 1,500 birth defects – mainly in Brazil.

Cuba, 90 miles from the coast of Florida, has confirmed 14 cases of locally-transmitted Zika, but the last infection was in March, thanks to an aggressive policy of spraying to kill the mosquitoes.

Health experts in the US have been predicting the arrival of Zika-carrying mosquitoes on its shores for many months, and have begun information campaigns and spraying of water-logged sites to kill the insects.

But Congress has risen for the seven-week summer recess without approving President Barack Obama’s $1.1 billion plan, announced in February, to fight the virus. Democrats have blocked the bill after Republicans insisted that a cut to Planned Parenthood funding be included in it.

Thomas Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control, described the political stalemate as “no way to fight an epidemic.”

“Mosquitoes don't go on summer break,” he said.

“We would like to begin really important activities that will help us, for instance, better understand the long-term impact on infants born to mothers who are infected over the long term. We would like to improve our ability to diagnose Zika. We’d like to have better ways to control mosquitoes.

“Those are all going to take significant effort and significant time, and we are not able to get the aggressive start on them we would like to.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/20/florida-health-department-investigates-possible-first-non-travel/

niman · August 10, 2016

The woman who set off the Zika scare in Florida doesn’t have a clear connection to the neighborhood where the outbreak is believed to be concentrated. She hasn’t traveled to a country where Zika is circulating and she hasn’t had sex with anyone likely to be infected.

These confounding facts are also laced with potential danger. The woman in her early 20s is pregnant.

The woman is one of 21 cases health officials are grappling with in their efforts to understand and contain the first known mosquito-borne Zika outbreak in the continental U.S., according to an internal report on the investigation for health officials reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. She is also the first known pregnant woman likely infected in the U.S. by a mosquito bite, rather than from travel or sexual intercourse.

Referred to as Miami-Dade #1 for the county she lives in, the woman isn’t known to be connected to the “warning zone” of about a square mile in the neighborhood of Wynwood, just north of downtown Miami, that is now the focus of Florida and federal health investigators.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/pregnant-zika-victim-alerted-officials-to-florida-outbreak-1470821406

Suspect Local Zika Transmission In Miami Dade Co Florida

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