Update September 12, 2016:

The Florida Department of Health announced that mosquitos infected with Zika have spread to two areas in Miami-Dade County–the Wynwood neighborhood (around June 15th) and now sections of Miami Beach (estimating around July 14th).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising pregnant women not to travel to these areas. 

As an update on the Zika virus, the Florida Department of Health announced that there is an area in Miami, Florida where the Zika virus is being spread by mosquitoes.  This is the first known case where people have been infected by the virus in the U.S.   They are recommending that pregnant women, or couples trying to become pregnant, avoid traveling to this area.  Health officials believe that the Zika virus has been in the area since about June 15, 2016, and there are currently 14 people infected with the virus–all cases are thought to have occurred in a particular neighborhood in Miami–Wynwood Arts District.

Area of Concern – Photo from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zika virus can cause serious birth defects in babies born to mothers that were infected during pregnancy.  It has also been linked to Gillian-Barré syndrome (GBS), that can cause muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis (in men, women, or children).  Most people will fully recover from GBS.

The CDC states that “Many people who get infected never have symptoms. In people who get sick, symptoms (fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes) are usually mild and resolve completely.”

There have been over 1600 reported cases of Zika virus in the U.S.; however, they are believed to have been the result of travel to a Zika-stricken country…until now.

Countries and Territories with Active Zika Virus Transmission:

Photo from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

For more travel insight, check out my book,

Know Before You Go: Traveling the U.S. and Abroad

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