Florida declares neighbourhood Zika-free, but CDC remains cautious

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention left in place a travel warning issued on Aug. 19 for nearby Miami Beach even as it discontinued one issued on Aug. 1 for Wynwood due to local transmission of the mosquito-borne virus that can cause serious birth defects.

“We want to continue to emphasize to pregnant women that they still should consider postponing non-essential travel for all of Miami-Dade (County). That is still in effect,” CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said.

“We had an issue, everybody took it seriously, and we solved it,” Scott said.

Scott’s comments followed news on Friday that the Zika transmission zone in Miami Beach, a popular tourist destination, had tripled in size after five new cases of infection were detected.

Don’t let down guard

Adalja said CDC’s prior guidance was that the area was considered “a big enough risk to advise pregnant women (and their partners) to avoid it period; that’s not the case now.”