Florida Local Zika Cases Increase To 252

[niman]

There are two new locally acquired cases today both in Miami-Dade County residents. The department is investigating to determine where exposure occurred. 

The total number of Zika cases reported in Florida as of today is 1,213. 

http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/11/112916-zika-update.html

Edited November 29, 2016 by niman

[niman]

November 29, 2016

Department of Health Daily Zika Update

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

Tallahassee, Fla.—In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware about the status of the Zika virus, the department will issue a Zika virus update each week day. Updates will include a Zika case count by county and information to keep Floridians informed and prepared. In order to keep the public informed, the department has posted our investigation process here.

There are five new travel-related cases today with two in Miami-Dade, one in Broward, one in Monroe and one in Orange.

There are two new locally acquired cases today both in Miami-Dade County residents. The department is investigating to determine where exposure occurred.  

The total number of Zika cases reported in Florida as of today is 1,213.

Infection Type	Infection Count
Travel-Related Infections of Zika	958
Locally Acquired Infections of Zika	240
Undetermined	15
Pregnant Women with Lab-Evidence of Zika	173

Note, these categories are not mutually exclusive and cannot be added together. Please visit our website to see the full list of travel-related cases by county.

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the department has not detected any additional local transmissions of Zika in the north portion of Miami Beach in more than 45 days. That portion of the zone has been lifted. The newly lifted area is about three miles, from 28th street to 63rd street. The remaining area of active Zika transmission in Miami Beach is about 1.5 square miles between 8th and 28th streets. The remaining area of active Zika transmission in Little River is about one square mile.

DOH continues outreach and targeted testing in Miami-Dade County and mosquito abatement and reduction activities are also taking place around the locations that are being investigated. DOH believes ongoing transmission is only taking place within the identified area in Miami Beach and Little River in Miami-Dade County, see maps below.

One case does not mean ongoing active transmission is taking place. DOH conducts a thorough investigation by sampling close contacts and community members around each case to determine if additional people are infected. If DOH finds evidence that active transmission is occurring in an area, the media and the public will be notified.

The timelines below are as of Nov. 23. Note: asymptomatic cases are not reflected as they do not have symptom on-set dates.

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The department is currently conducting 14 active investigations. The department has closed 38 investigations. Information regarding the investigations can be found here. If investigations reveal additional areas of active transmission, the department will announce a defined area of concern. 

The department has conducted Zika virus testing for more than 10,585 people statewide. Florida currently has the capacity to test 5,913 people for active Zika virus and 5,114 for Zika antibodies. At Governor Scott’s direction, all county health departments now offer free Zika risk assessment and testing to pregnant women.

Florida’s small case cluster is not considered widespread transmission, however, pregnant women are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the impacted area in Miami-Dade County (see map below). If you are pregnant and must travel or if you live or work in the impacted area, protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent, long clothing and limiting your time outdoors. 

According to CDC guidance, providers should test all pregnant women who lived in, traveled to or whose partner traveled to Miami-Dade County after Aug. 1, 2016. It is also recommended that all pregnant women who reside in or travel frequently to the area where active transmission is likely occurring be tested for Zika in the first and second trimester. Pregnant women in the identified area can contact their medical provider or their local county health department to be tested and receive a Zika prevention kit. CDC recommends that a pregnant woman with a history of Zika virus and her provider should consider additional ultrasounds. Additionally, the department is working closely with the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade County to identify pregnant women in the impacted areas to ensure they have access to resources and information to protect themselves. CDC recommends that a pregnant woman with a history of Zika virus and her provider should consider additional ultrasounds. 

Pregnant women can contact their local county health department for Zika risk assessment and testing hours and information. A Zika risk assessment will be conducted by county health department staff and blood and/or urine samples may be collected and sent to labs for testing. It may take one to two weeks to receive results.

Florida has been monitoring pregnant women with evidence of Zika regardless of symptoms. The total number of pregnant women who have been or are being monitored is 173.

On Feb. 12, Governor Scott directed the State Surgeon General to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The hotline, managed by the Department of Health, has assisted 7,681 callers since it launched. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.

The department urges Floridians to drain standing water weekly, no matter how seemingly small. A couple drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding location for mosquitoes. Residents and visitors also need to use repellents when enjoying the Florida outdoors.

For more information on DOH action and federal guidance, please click here.

For resources and information on Zika virus, click here.

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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.

[niman]

Map Update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ&ll=25.889717300555567%2C-80.36331222578139&z=11

[niman]

ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS

Information on Active Investigations

When a local case of Zika virus is confirmed through laboratory testing, the department conducts a thorough investigation around the case to determine if additional people are infected. The department interviews and tests close contacts and community members around the case. Knowing if additional people are infected helps the department determine if there is a zone where mosquitoes are transmitting the virus. Not every case results in a designation of active transmission in an area. In some instances, a case of Zika is an isolated incident with no additional people infected. For more information on the department’s testing and investigation process, click here. 

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Current Number of Active Investigations: 14

Miami-Dade County: 10 open investigations

Unknown: 4 open investigations.

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Current Number of Closed Investigations: 38

Miami-Dade County: 30 closed investigations

Palm Beach County: 6 closed investigation

Broward County: 1 closed investigation

Pinellas: 1 closed investigation 

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Sampling Activities For Active Investigations

Miami Beach in Miami-Dade County (Area of Active Transmission)

Total # of Samples Collected	Positive	Negative	Pending Results
1,067	75	992	0

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Little River in Miami-Dade County (Area of Active Transmission)

Total # of Samples Collected	Positive	Negative	Pending Results
118	9	109	0

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Miami-Dade Investigations Outside of Areas of Active Transmission – 8 Investigations

Total # of Samples Collected	Positive	Negative	Pending Results
45	3	42	0

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Wynwood Area in Miami-Dade County – Note: This investigation is closed, but the department is providing the sampling results below for reference.

Total # of Samples Collected	Positive	Negative	Pending Results
525	33	491	0

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_{Data as of Nov. 29, 2016 – 3:33 p.m. ET}