Department Of Health Daily Zika Update

Department Of Health Daily Zika Update

      TALLAHASSEE, FL — 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 is one new travel-related case today in Polk County. Please visit our website to see the full list of travel-related cases.

There are two new non-travel related cases today in Miami-Dade County. One case is associated with the Miami Beach investigation. The department is investigating the other case to determine where exposure occurred in Miami-Dade.

On Friday evening, Governor Scott announced the area of active transmission in Miami Beach expanded to approxi-mately 4.5 square miles from 8th Street to 63rd Street as four new non-travel related cases were identified in the expanded area.

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that following 45 days with no evidence of active Zika transmission, the entire Wynwood zone, which was originally about one square mile, has been lifted. The department advises residents and visitors in Wynwood to remain vigilant about mosquito bite protection by draining all sources of standing water to keep mosquitoes from breeding and wearing bug repellent to help keep Wynwood Zika free.

DOH continues door-to-door outreach and targeted testing in Pinellas, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties 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 in Miami-Dade County, see map 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.

For a complete breakdown of non-travel and travel-related Zika infections to-date, please see below.

Infection Type/Infection Count

Travel-Related Infections of Zika/ 661

Non-Travel Related Infections of Zika/ 85

Infections Involving Pregnant Women/ 86

Out of State Cases (not Florida Residents)/ 10

Total     842

The department is currently conducting 10 active investigations. The department has closed 15 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 con-ducted Zika virus testing for more than 7,734 people statewide. Florida currently has the capacity to test 4,944 people for active Zika virus and 8,452 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 consider testing all pregnant women with a history of travel to a Zika affected area for the virus.

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  re-commends that a pregant women with a  history of Zika virus and her provider should consider additional ultra-sounds. 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 86.

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 6,314 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.