Northeast Ohioans who travel to Florida, or spend part of the year there, should know mosquitoes in the Sunshine State appear to be responsible for a handful of Zika virus cases there.
The four cases reported this week are the first infections caused by mosquitoes in the continental U.S. The people infected all live in Miami-Dade and Broward counties on the state’s southeast coast, health officials said.
Since learning of the infections, the state’s health department contracted with commercial pest control companies to increase spraying and mosquito abatement in those areas. That follows Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s emergency action in June to spend $26.2 million in state funds for Zika preparedness and prevention across the state.
“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,” Scott said in a news release.
“We will continue this same approach as we work to combat the Zika virus in our state.”
U.S. health officials have not advised anyone to avoid traveling to Florida. State officials hope to contain the virus to an isolated area because its neighborhoods have better sanitation and living conditions than countries where Zika outbreaks have been widespread, according to the release.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, has told blood centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to suspend collections until they can screen each unit of blood for the Zika virus.
Zika primarily spreads through bites from tropical mosquitoes, but it also can be spread through sex.
For most people, the virus is not dangerous. But women infected with Zika during pregnancy risk severe brain-related birth defects for their fetuses. There is no vaccine.
More than 1,650 Zika infections have been reported in the U.S. All of those cases appear to be connected to travel beyond the U.S. mainland.
There have been 27 Zika cases in Ohio, according to the state’s health department. In all but one case, people were infected while traveling abroad.
The other person was infected by sex with someone infected while traveling abroad.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Amanda Garrett can be reached at 330-996-3725 or agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com.
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