A leading official from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warned that the threat of the Zika virus could spill over from Florida to other Gulf Coast states since these areas provide suitable breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Director Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) revealed on Sunday, Aug. 21, that coastal states such as Texas and Louisiana are the ones most vulnerable to a possible Zika outbreak.
He said that the Aedes mosquito's penchant for thriving in sub-tropical or semi-tropical climates and the presence of individuals with travel-related infection cases help increase the likelihood for these areas to experience widespread Zika cases similar to those in Florida.
Fauci noted that the recent flooding in Louisiana also adds to its vulnerability to the mosquito-borne illness. He said it would be difficult for people in the state to get rid of the stranding water from the flood.
Zika Transmissions In Florida
Cases of mosquito-related Zika transmissions were first detected in the neighborhoods of Miami Beach and Wynwood in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Health officials believe these infections originated from known Zika hotspots in the Caribbean and Latin American countries.
However, with the confirmation of non-travel-related Zika transmission cases in Miami Beach last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has decided to include the popular tourist destination, as well as Wynwood, in its travel advisory for pregnant women.
Fauci said the best way to prevent an outbreak of the disease is to control the spread of the mosquitoes that carry it.
While he doesn't believe that the Zika virus could end up spreading across the continental United States, the NIAID director stressed that Americans should take the threat of the disease seriously and be prepared for it.
Fauci added it is likely that the Zika virus could remain a public health problem for at least a couple more years.
"Hopefully, we get to a point to where we could suppress it so that we won't have any risk of it," he said.
People infected with the Zika virus often develop several symptoms, including a sudden appearance of rashes, fever, joint pains and a reddening of the eyes (conjunctivitis).
Recent studies have shown that the virus can cause severe health problems, especially on pregnant mothers and their unborn child. These include the development of abnormally-sized heads (microcephaly) in babies and other brain disorders.
Health officials advise the public to take all necessary precautions against the spread of Zika, from preventing mosquito bites to practicing protected sex between partners.
