Florida confirms first US cases of Zika
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Four individuals in Florida tested positive for Zika virus likely caused by bites of local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, Florida state officials announced on July 29. These are the first known locally acquired cases in the United States. All previous cases were associated with travel outside the country.Tests confirmed the presence of the virus in three men and one woman. No mosquitos have tested positive for Zika.
Zika has been linked to microcephaly, characterized by a small head and underdeveloped brain, which may cause developmental delays, intellectual disability and other serious health conditions. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitos and possibly by Aedes albopictus, neither of which are native to Iowa.
All Zika cases in Iowa currently are travel-related. Weekly reports about these cases and other updates are available on the IDPH website.
“All the evidence we have seen indicates that this is mosquito-borne transmission that occurred several weeks ago in several blocks in Miami,” said Tom Frieden, M.D., director of the CDC. “We continue to recommend that everyone in areas where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are present—and especially pregnant women—take steps to avoid mosquito bites.”
The CDC began issuing warnings about the outbreak in December 2015. As of July 27, there have been 1,657 confirmed cases of travel-associated Zika in the United States, 15 sexually transmitted cases and one laboratory-acquired case. It also has established five cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with the virus.
In addition to transmission from mother to fetus, the CDC reports that Zika may be passed to sexual partners. The Utah Department of Health and CDC are investigating a case that is not believed to be travel-related, sexually transmitted, or acquired through local mosquito vectors. This case, announced by CDC on July 18, was a family contact who provided care for an elderly man.
Health officials ask that pregnant women not travel to areas with Zika. A complete list of these countries is available on a CDC Zika web page. Women who are trying to get pregnant are advised to talk to their doctor or other health care provider about travel plans.
Many people infected with Zika virus will not have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms may include muscle pain and headache.
Iowa health care providers suspecting a potential case of Zika virus should first contact the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology at 800-362-2736. CADE staff will consult with the provider to determine whether the case meets the CDC testing criteria.
Additional information about Zika is available from CDC.
