On Feb. 3, the Surgeon General of Florida declared a public health emergency in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties due to reported cases of the Zika virus, which may lead to Guillain-Barre Syndrome and birth defects.
According to Miami Herald, as of Feb. 11, 16 people have tested positive for the virus in Florida, six of whom are in Miami-Dade and two of whom are in Broward. All cases are travel-related.
Although none of the reported cases in Florida were contracted in the continental U.S., officials have expressed concern that the virus will spread in the counties that those infected reside in, including Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Osceola, Santa Rosa and St. Johns.
The mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus carry and spread the virus through bites. Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
Bindu Mayi, associate professor of microbiology, said that, because symptoms are mild, many people don’t realize they’re carrying the virus.
Mayi said the best way to respond to mosquito-born diseases is using mosquito eradication techniques, such as insecticides and repellants that contain DEET or picaridin.
“Use [the repellants] as the manufacturer recommends so you minimize any adverse effects,” she said.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez sent out a memo to the Board of County Commissioners that outlined the procedure of the Department of Solid Waste Management’s Mosquito Control Section in Miami-Dade.
The mayor said that, if necessary, the DSWM’s Mosquito Control Section will spray EPA-approved insecticides in areas with high concentrations of mosquitos.
Though symptoms are mild and often go away, pregnant women who contract the virus may pass the virus on to the fetus. This could lead to a birth defect called microcephaly, where the baby’s head and brain are disproportionately smaller than expected, and other disabilities.
The first confirmed case was in Brazil in May 2015, and Brazil says nearly 4,000 babies have been born with Zika-related microcephaly since October 2015, according to BBC.
Mayi also said scientists are researching the connection between the virus and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a non-contagious disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system, which may cause extreme weakness or paralysis.
There are currently no vaccinations available to prevent the virus. It is recommended that people wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, stay indoors when possible, use EPA-registered insect repellants, and treat clothing with permethrin.
Mayi also recommended that people living in South Florida should drain any stagnant water they keep in or around their homes, as stagnant water is typically a breeding location for mosquitos.
In the memo sent out by Gimenez, it was also recommended that people cover doors and windows with screens and discard old tires, drums, bottles and other items that they don’t typically use.
“The key is a level of awareness in which we respond to any health issue or emergency,” Mayi said. “It would be ignorant of us to expect that we will always have a lid on every infectious illness that affects humans.”
On Feb. 8, President Barack Obama asked Congress to provide $1.8 billion to help fight the virus in the Americas through mosquito control, training programs and laboratory expansion. If agreed upon, the Department of Health and Human Services would receive $1.48 billion, and $250 million would be allocated to aiding pregnant women in Puerto Rico.
The proposal came after a case was reported in Texas on Feb. 3, where someone contracted the Zika Virus after having sex with a partner who had recently traveled to Venezuela, where the virus has spread.
As reported by CNN, Zika remains in the bloodstream for about a week; however, it is unknown how long it is able to remain in semen. Researchers are testing the virus to find a timeframe.
As of Feb. 8, officials have reported cases of Zika virus in Venezuela, Mexico, Jamaica, Ecuador, Colombia, Ireland, Australia, the Pacific Islands and Cape Verde in Africa. Locally transmitted cases have been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. For a full list of infected areas, visit cdc.gov/zika.
In a memo sent out by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Feb. 4, the outline of the procedure of DSWM’s Mosquito Control Section is as follows:
- Conduct property inspections to eliminate mosquito breeding
- Treat storm drains in the area
- Initiate local and area-wide insecticide applications
- Collect mosquito surveillance data to assess the mosquito population before and after the mosquito control measures are implemented
- Collect mosquito for laboratory screening to determine if they carry the mosquito-borne viruses
