An international crisis has entered Florida starting with a small bite.
The virus known as “Zika” has spread in eight counties in the last two weeks, with 20 cases reported since Friday.
On Feb. 3, Fla. Gov. Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in the first four counties affected: Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa.
Miami-Dade has the highest number so far, with seven cases reported.
The virus is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti after biting a person. After the mosquitoes draw blood from an individual with Zika virus, it carries the virus to the next person it bites.
Though further research is being conducted, spread of the virus through sexual contact and blood transfusion have been reported in isolated cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five people infected become ill and exhibit symptoms including rash, fever, joint pain and red eyes.
But researchers found the virus non-life threatening, with symptoms usually lasting about a week. All cases in Florida were reported as travel-related – the first appearing in Miami-Dade in January from two residents who traveled to Colombia the month before.
One Hillsborough resident contracted the virus during a trip in Venezuela.
In a Feb. 4 press release, Scott requested the CDC provide at least 1,000 Zika antibody tests for individuals, especially pregnant women and new mothers, who have traveled to affected areas and have displayed symptoms of the Zika virus. The test allows the state to see if individuals ever had the virus – Florida currently only has the capacity to test 475 people.
The governor also asked the CDC to organize a conference call to assist in training hospital workers, particularly OBGYN doctors, on how the virus is spread, its symptoms, treatments, and so on.
“With over 20 million residents and 100 million tourists, we must stay ahead of the possible spread of the Zika virus and take immediate action to ensure Florida is prepared,” he said.
So far in the U.S., 59 cases have been reported in more than 20 states.
Florida has 20 confirmed cases, the most in the country, and Texas follows with 11.
CDC Director Thomas Frieden said Florida could face challenges in controlling the outbreak, since the state is known for a large mosquito population.
“Florida, Texas and the southern U.S. have the mosquito that spreads this (virus) very well,” Frieden said on Jan. 28 in a U.S. Senate hearing on Zika.
The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 and later spread to parts of Asia.
Brazil’s first case of Zika was confirmed in May 2015 and has quickly made its way to over 30 countries, causing the World Health Organization to declare an international emergency on Feb. 1.
Although researchers don’t know how the virus made the jump to Brazil, many have suggested it may have been due to the influx of tourists visiting the country for the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament, or an international canoeing competition that same year.
The Brazilian government estimates that more than 1.5 million Brazilians have been infected with Zika.
Despite the mild symptoms, the primary concern is for pregnant women, who are at a significantly higher risk.
An increased rate of newborn babies with abnormally small heads were reported in South America, indicating a condition known as microcephaly – a neurological disorder that causes severe brain damage and potentially death.
On Friday, Brazil’s health ministry reported 4,314 confirmed and suspected cases of microcephaly, up from 4074 on Feb. 2.
Though researchers have found evidence of the Zika infection in more than 40 of these cases, scientists have not confirmed the virus can cause microcephaly.
But on Friday, the World Health Organisation said the possible connection between the Zika virus and microcephaly, along with other birth defects, could be confirmed within the next few weeks.
Health officials advise pregnant women to delay trips to Zika-affected areas.
On Feb. 8, President Obama requested more than $1.8 billion in emergency funding from Congress to combat the outbreak both domestically and internationally, which includes $355 million in foreign aid for South America.
The money would be used for expand mosquito control programs, vaccine development and new public education programs, particularly for pregnant women.
Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev., spoke on the administration’s response to the virus, “It is critical that we approve the funds immediately and give our government the resources it needs to fight the virus,”
Florida Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong urges people to use bug repellents and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts outside. Most importantly, Armstrong also recommends draining any standing water, no matter how small.
“A couple drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding location for mosquitoes.” Armstrong said on Friday.
Currently, there is no vaccine for Zika, but health officials around the world are scrambling to develop one.
On Thursday, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston agreed to partner with the Brazilian Ministry of Health to help develop a Zika vaccine ready for clinical testing within 12 months.
For more information, call the Zika Virus Information Hotline (855-622-6735) managed by the Florida Department of Health.
