Aug. 19, 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. Updates will include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared.

The department has conducted testing for the Zika virus for more than 3,740 people statewide. Florida currently has the capacity to test 4,803 people for active Zika virus and 2,655 for Zika antibodies. Per the Governor’s direction on August 3, all county health departments are now offering free Zika risk assessment and testing to any pregnant woman who would like to be tested.

There are 14 new travel-related cases today with six in Miami-Dade, one in Broward, one in Palm Beach, one in Seminole and five involving pregnant women. Please visit our website to see the full list of travel-related cases. There is one new non-travel related case today, which islocated outside of the Wynwood and Miami-Beach areas in Miami-Dade County.

The department has learned through one of our investigations that five individuals who have already been confirmed as cases of local transmissions of Zika are connected to the Miami Beach area. We believe active transmissions of Zika virus are occurring in the area of Miami Beach between 8th and 28th streets (see map below). This is the second area that has been identified as a location where local transmission is occurring and is just under 1.5 square miles.

After aggressive testing in the Wynwood area, today the department is able to clear three additional blocks of the Northeastern area of Wynwood because there is no continued evidence of active transmission (see map below). This is in addition to the 14 blocks we have already been able to clear in Wynwood. A map detailing the area is below. The CDC continues to monitor the area per their guidelines.

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

The department is currently conducting 10 active investigations. Information regarding the investigations is available here.

CLOSED INVESTIGATIONS

• The department has closed out the investigations into the first cases in Miami-Dade and Broward County (two cases). The department tested 124 close contacts and individuals from the community and found no additional positives.

If investigations reveal additional areas of likely active transmission, the department will announce a defined area of concern. 

One case does not 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. If the department finds evidence that active transmission is occurring in an additional area, we will notify the media and the public.

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. If you are pregnant and must travel or if you live or work in the impacted areas, 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 areas where active transmission is likely occurring be tested for Zika in the first and second trimester. Pregnant women in the identified areas 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 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 since January. The total number of pregnant women who have been or are being monitored is 68.

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 4,272 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.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov