Zika virus spreads to Miami Beach

The Zika issue has become highly topical because of the Rio Olympics and the decision by some athletes not to go to the Games due to their fear of catching the virus.

In the meantime, the blood had been transfused into two patients – a 54-year-old woman with the bone marrow disorder myelofibrosis, and a 14-year-old girl battling leukemia. The best way to prevent a Zika infection is to protect against mosquito bites.

Even if the baby had been infected with Zika, he or she could not have spread the virus to other people or to mosquitoes, the health department said.

The virus has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of microcephaly in Brazil, a potentially severe birth defect that can cause infants to be born with shrunken heads and lead to developmental problems. In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an experimental test to check blood donations for the Zika virus.

Ericsson said “there has been no risks identified in Orange County for contracting Zika virus from mosquitoes”.

Wherever Zika virus transmission occurs, “blood collection establishments will be able to continue to collect blood and use the investigational screening test, minimizing disruption to the blood supply”, he explained.

Zika’s most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes, although many people who are infected do not experience any symptoms. A spokeswoman for Florida’s health department, Mara Gambineri, said the department believes active transmissions are still only occurring in a small area in the Wynwood area of Miami but acknowledged two new Zika cases outside that area. An announcement is expected to be made as early as Friday. Florida health officials say there have been at least 28 local Zika infections.

That marked the first time the Zika virus was confirmed to have been spreading in the United States, and the first time CDC had warned Americans against traveling to a part of the country to avoid contracting a disease.

“Tourism is a driving force of Florida’s economy and this industry has the full support of our state in the fight against the Zika virus”, Scott added.

The county recommends following the CDC’s guidelines, especially when planning trips to known Zika sites.

A source said that one case was from a tourist that visited the city two weeks ago, and the other is from a resident who works on the beach.

The SCCHS said the woman had traveled outside of the United States before developing symptoms.

The Zika virus can be sexually transmitted or transmitted through mosquito bites.

Florida now has 35 cases of local Zika transmission.

The biggest danger is to pregnant women.