3:14

PM EDT October 14, 2017 Jordan Ferrell

Sen. Bill Nelson tells CDC 'Zika outbreak

isn't over'
Following the rst case of locally transmitted Zika in 2017, U.S. Sen. Bill
Nelson wrote a letter to the director of the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention asking them to prioritize Zika-prevention e orts.

A single case of locally transmitted Zika cropped up in Manatee County

on Thursday, according to the Florida Department of Health. A couple
who had recently traveled to Cuba are believed to be the ones
responsible for bringing the disease back to the state.

One partner, who is believed to have contracted the disease while

traveling, was bitten by a mosquito in or around their home, and that
mosquito, in return, bit and transmitted the disease to the other
partner. A test later revealed a connection between the one partner
allegedly infected in Cuba and the one who tested positive in Florida.

The FDOH has said there is no current evidence of ongoing, active

transmission of the disease, yet Sen. Nelson on Friday reiterated his
concern over the spread of the disease and the threat it poses to
Floridians.

"The Zika outbreak isn't over and continues to pose a serious public
health threat to Floridians who are already struggling to recover from
Hurricane Irma," Nelson said in his letter to Brenda Fitzgerald,
Director of CDC.

There have been 187 instances of Zika virus recorded so far this year. A
majority of those infections are travel related, however 32 cases are
from undetermined exposure in 2016 with positive test results in 2017.
Additionally, there are a total of 107 pregnant women proven to have
Zika currently in the U.S.
On June 2, the CDC lifted the cautionary, yellow area designation for
Miami-Dade County. The designation was removed after more than
three mosquito incubation periods passed with no additional con rmed
locally-transmitted cases and no suspicion of such.

Gov. Rick Scott met with FDOH earlier this year at the Zika
Preparedness Planning Meeting to discuss future e orts in preventing
and combating the virus, as an increase in mosquito activity was
expected.

“While Florida does not have any identi ed areas with active Zika
transmission, DOH, mosquito control districts and community
partners across the state have been tirelessly working together to help
combat the spread of this disease and keep our state safe," Scott said
during the July meeting. "We know that summer means more rain,
more mosquitos, and more travel related cases, and that is why we
must continue to take aggressive preparedness actions."

Last year, Scott authorized $25 million in state funds for Zika research
and vaccine development. Thirty-four grants were awarded to help
expedite the development of a vaccine to prevent Zika infection,
according to the FDOH. There has been no successful Zika vaccine
produced thus far.

"While there is currently no active transmission in Florida, we remain

vigilant and look to our researchers' ndings to prevent this virus and
it's potentially devastating e ects on infants," said Dr. Celeste Phillip,
State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health.

Recent storms have raised concern over the increase of mosquitoes due
to standing water. Scott has remained vigilant in his e orts to remind
the public to dump standing water whenever possible. However, the
virus remains an issue whether it is locally transmitted or travel
related.

In August, the rst sexually transmitted case of Zika was reported in

Pinellas County. Similar to the most recent incident, the individual
received the disease from a partner who had just returned from Cuba,
according to the FDOH.
Included in the comprehensive list of areas which remain at risk for
Zika infection are The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

"Given the recent transmission combined with the potential threat of

more Zika-carrying mosquitoes in the wake of Hurricane Irma, I ask
you to act with a sense of urgency to take steps to prevent further viral
spread," Nelson said. "As Florida continues to recover from Hurricane
Irma, I remain concerned the increased rain and standing water from
the hurricane will only increase the spread of Zika infections this year."

Unfortunately, Zika isn't the only mosquitoe-borne virus threatening

Floridians. On Sept. 29, the FDOH in Duval County issued an advisory
warning citizens of an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity
after one case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was con rmed.

"Last year, I fought for, and Congress ultimately approved, $1.1 billion
in funding to respond to the Zika outbreak," Nelson said. "It is critical
that we build upon this investment to ensure the resources and
personnel are in place to stop the spread of this virus."

To read Sen. Nelson's full letter to the CDC, click HERE.

Follow Jordan Ferrell on Twitter at @J_E_Ferrell.

Viewed using Just Read