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Late yesterday the Florida Governor's office announced a new, small area of local Zika transmission in Miami and today the CDC has updated their guidance for people living in, or traveling to, areas where Zika is (or previously was) circulating in South Florida.
Advice for people living in or traveling to South Florida
On August 1, CDC issued guidance for people who travel to or live in a 1-square-mile area of the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami, FL, identified by the Florida Department of Health as having mosquito-borne spread of Zika. On August 19, CDC also issued guidance for a 1.5-square-mile section of Miami Beach identified to have mosquito-borne spread of Zika; on September 17, this section was expanded to a 4.5-square-mile area. On October 13, Florida announced a new area of mosquito-borne spread of Zika in a 1-square-mile area in Miami-Dade County, FL.
On September 19, CDC updated guidance for the Wynwood-designated area after three mosquito incubation periods passed without any new locally transmitted cases of Zika.
General guidance
- Pregnant women and their sex partners who are concerned about potential exposure to Zika may consider postponing nonessential travel to all parts of Miami-Dade County.
- All pregnant women in the United States should be assessed for possible Zika virus exposure and signs or symptoms of Zika during each prenatal care visit.
- Women with Zika should wait at least 8 weeks after symptoms start before trying to get pregnant.
- Men with Zika should wait at least 6 months after symptoms start before couples try to get pregnant.
- Pregnant women with possible Zika exposure and signs or symptoms of Zika should be tested for Zika.
- Effective contraception to prevent pregnancy in women and their partners who want to delay or prevent pregnancy is a key prevention strategy for Zika.
Guidance for areas of active transmission
The guidance below applies to people who live in or traveled to the newly designated 1-square mile area of Miami-Dade County any time after August 26, and the previously identified 4.5-square-mile area of Miami Beach any time after July 14, 2016. This timeframe is based on the earliest time symptoms can start and the maximum 2-week incubation period for Zika virus.
- Pregnant women should not travel to these areas.
- Pregnant women and partners of pregnant women living in or traveling to these areas should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.
- Women and men who live in or traveled to these areas and who have a pregnant sex partner should use condoms to prevent infection every time they have sex or not have sex during the pregnancy.
- Women and men who live in or frequently travel to these areas should talk to their healthcare provider about plans for pregnancy.
- Women and men who are planning to conceive in the near future should consider avoiding nonessential travel to these areas.
- Women who traveled to these areas should wait at least 8 weeks, regardless of whether they had symptoms, before trying to get pregnant.
- Men who traveled to these areas should wait at least 6 months, regardless of whether they had symptoms, before trying to get their partner pregnant.
Guidance for areas of previous active transmission
The guidance below applies to the identified area in Wynwood, FL.
- Pregnant women and partners of pregnant women who are worried about potential exposure to Zika may consider postponing nonessential travel to all parts of Miami-Dade County, including the identified area of Wynwood.
- Pregnant women and partners of pregnant women living in or traveling to the area should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.
- Women and men living in or who traveled to the area should be aware that the location was considered to have active Zika virus transmission from June 15 to September 18, 2016. Pregnant women should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider about getting tested for Zika. Partners of pregnant women should use condoms consistently and correctly to prevent passing Zika during sex, or they should not have sex during the pregnancy.
- Women who traveled to the area from June 15 to September 18, regardless of whether they had symptoms, should wait at least 8 weeks before trying to get pregnant.
- Men who traveled to the area from June 15 to September 18, regardless of whether they had symptoms, should wait at least 6 months before trying to get their partner pregnant.
For questions on mosquito control in Florida
Florida health officials can answer specific questions on their mosquito control program. Aerial treatment of areas with products that rapidly reduce both young and adult mosquitoes can help to limit the number of mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus. Repeated aerial applications of insecticide has reduced mosquito populations as a part of an integrated mosquito management program.
Zika is in Your Area: What To Do
Learn how to protect yourself from Zika infection.
