Zika Virus: Advice for people living in or traveling to South Florida
The Florida Department of Health has identified two areas of Miami-Dade County where Zika is being spread by mosquitoes. In addition to the previously identified area in the Wynwood neighborhood, there is now mosquito-borne spread of Zika virus in a section of Miami Beach.
This guidance is for people who live in or traveled to the identified area of Miami Beach any time after July 14. This guidance also still applies for those who live in or traveled to the previously identified Wynwood area any time after June 15. These timeframes are based on the earliest time symptoms can start and the maximum 2-week incubation period for Zika virus.
Pregnant women and their partners
• Pregnant women should not travel to these areas.
• Pregnant women and their partners living in or traveling to these areas should 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 or other barriers to prevent infection every time they have sex or not have sex during the pregnancy.
• Pregnant women and their partners who are concerned about being exposed to Zika may want to 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.
• Pregnant women who live in or frequently travel to these areas should be tested in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.
• Pregnant women with possible Zika exposure and signs or symptoms of Zika should be tested for Zika.
• Pregnant women who traveled to or had unprotected sex with a partner that traveled to or lives in these areas should talk to their healthcare provider and should be tested for Zika.
Couples thinking about getting pregnant
• Women with Zika should wait at least 8 weeks after symptoms began before trying to get pregnant, and men with Zika should wait at least 6 months after symptoms began.
• Women and men who live in or frequently travel to these areas should talk to their healthcare provider.
• Women and men who traveled to these areas should wait at least 8 weeks before trying to get pregnant.
Women and men of reproductive age
• Effective contraception to prevent pregnancy in women and their partners who want to delay or prevent pregnancy is a key prevention strategy for Zika.
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 vector management program.. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.