August 5, 2016

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DAILY ZIKA UPDATE

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(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 continue to issue a Zika virus update each week day at 2 p.m. Updates will include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared.

There are 13 new travel-related cases today with five in Orange County, three in Seminole County, two in Brevard County, two in Palm Beach County and one in St. Lucie County. Please visit our website to see the full list of travel-related cases.

There is one new non-travel related case today inside the identified one-square mile in Miami-Dade County. This individual was tested as one of the 26 close contacts around the two original cases. This case is considered probable and has been sent to CDC for confirmatory testing, along with the three other probable cases.

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

ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS

1)     Identified one-square mile in Miami-Dade: Original two cases in the area of interest in Miami-Dade: tested 26 close contacts, one confirmed and four probable; 52 individuals from the community have been tested, six were positive but asymptomatic

• 142 individuals in the northwest quadrant of the identified area have been tested; only one travel-related infection was identified. After this very intensive active case finding, the department did not identify any additional cases of local transmission. No additional active surveillance is planned in the northwest section of the identified square mile area.
• Yesterday, 42 samples were collected for testing.
• Mosquito abatement and reduction activities are on-going.

2)     Miami-Dade investigation outside the one-square mile:

• Testing has been completed for 11 individuals with no additional positives.
• Sample collection and door-to-door outreach continues. Mosquito abatement and reduction activities are on-going.

CLOSED INVESTIGATIONS

• The department has closed out the investigations into the first cases in Miami-Dade and Broward County. The department tested 124 close contacts and individuals from the community and found no additional positives.
• On August 4, the department announced we have completed testing in a 10 block area of the northwest quadrant of the one-square mile area and no people within the 10 block radius tested positive. The department has cleared that area and is continuing to test people within the one-square mile radius. A map detailing the area is below.

The department still believes active transmission is only taking place within the identified one-square mile area in Miami-Dade County. There are no active investigations in Broward County and no areas of active transmission in Broward County.

One case does mean active transmission is taking place and that’s why the department conducts a thorough investigation by sampling close contacts and community members around each case to determine if additional people are infected. The department has not yet determined where the individual likely contracted Zika and will share more details as the investigation progresses. If the department finds evidence that active transmission is occurring in an area, we will notify the media and the public.

The department has conducted testing for the Zika virus for more than 2,460 people statewide. Florida currently has the capacity to test 6,239 people for active Zika virus and 1,840 for Zika antibodies.

The department still believes active transmissions of the Zika virus are occurring in one small area in Miami-Dade County, just north of downtown. The exact location is within the boundaries of the following area: NW 5^th Avenue to the west, US 1 to the east, NW/NE 38^th Street to the north and NW/NE 20^thStreet to the south. This area is about one square mile and a map is below to detail the area. This remains the only area of the state where the department has confirmed there are local transmissions of Zika. If investigations reveal additional areas of likely active transmission, the department will announce a defined area of concern. 

CDC recommends that women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant postpone travel to areas with widespread Zika infection. 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 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 one square mile area 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. 

Florida has been monitoring pregnant women with evidence of Zika regardless of symptoms since January. The total number of pregnant women who have been or are being monitored is 55.

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 3,079 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.

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.

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