Zika Virus Outbreak: Miami at a High Risk? Residents on High Alert

For many months now, Zika virus has been the most talked about health threat in Latin America. However, it has slowly garnered much attention in the United States after several people were infected with the virus.

The virus itself does not really have a major effect on an adult human being; however, for pregnant woman, they are very dangerous because they can cause microcephaly birth defect in infants.

According to a report by NBC News, the virus, which is spread to people through mosquito bites, has already infected a number of Americans who travelled to South America since the first Zika case was discovered. According to the news outlet, people have cancelled trips to the countries affected because of the risk of getting an infection. There are also reports that the American government might put you in quarantined upon return from those countries.

In Miami Florida, residents are getting wary about the threat of the virus spreading onto their city. There are reports that some people infected with the virus are already in the city after they landed from their trip in Latin America.

City officials have already confirmed 12 cases of the virus. Nevertheless, infected people got the virus overseas, which is a sign of relief for all the residents in Florida knowing that their everglades are not infested with Zika-infected mosquitoes, according to a report gathered by USA Today.

Rick Scott, the Governor of Florida, have already declared a state of emergency for the areas where the Americans with the Zika virus live. His concern is not about people bringing the mosquitoes to the United States, but local mosquitoes may bite some of the patients with Zika and get infected in the process.

It has definitely raised a huge concern to so many people not only in Florida but also in the whole country. According to the World Health Organization, there are currently almost 4 million people in South America who are infected with the virus.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, there is still no available vaccine for Zika virus. The agency has also warned pregnant women not to travel to South America to avoid getting the infection that may cause terrible effects to their baby.

Moreover, they have also confirmed that the use of insect repellant against these mosquitoes will actually work. They recommended pregnant women who have travelled to South America to see their health care provider once they experience a fever, which is an indication that you might have the infection.