Following the confirmation by the Florida Health Department (and the Centers for Disease Control) of ten [now 14] cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in one section of Miami, Florida, the City’s Health Department updated its current travel warning for Latin America and the Caribbean to include this area of Miami.
In a statement, the health department stated that the fact that Zika is spreading locally in that Miami neighborhood means that pregnant women, women trying to conceive, and their sexual partners put themselves and their unborn child at risk of potential Zika infection when visiting this area.
Although the mosquito associated with Zika transmission has not been found in New York City, the Health Department continues to encourage all New Yorkers to remove standing outdoor water, use repellant when appropriate, and avoid mosquito-dense areas.
This is the first time the Centers for Disease Control has issued a domestic travel alert. The CDC says Zika is a mild and treatable disease for most people; however, it could have devastating consequences for an unborn child.
This post has been updated.
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