With the confirmation of locally transmitted Zika virus transmission in the Miami, Florida area, Public Health England has raised the risk designation for the Sunshine State from low to medium.
According to Public Health England: Countries/territories/areas with active or past Zika transmission have been classified into 4 categories based on the current and potential epidemiological situation. These categories ensure travel advice is appropriate and proportionate to the defined Zika virus transmission risk.
Also, pregnant women should consider postponing non-essential travel
Moderate risk is defined as “Countries/territories/areas outside of the main outbreak regions reporting active but sporadic Zika virus transmission in the past 3 months.”
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) notes:
The risk in Florida is considered moderate based on the number and spread of cases and their demonstrated ability to implement effective control measures for similar diseases such as dengue – a virus transmitted by the same mosquito. Pregnant women should consider postponing non-essential travel to affected areas until after the pregnancy. At present, only a zone of about 1 square mile in Miami-Dade County is considered at risk of active transmission.
In May, a professor from the prestigious London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine advised pregnant women to “think twice” if travelling to certain parts of the US, including Florida.
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