Last week, we got news that Zika is being spread by mosquitos in Florida. That marks the first time that the virus has been contracted in the US, rather than being contracted abroad and brought back.
Today, we’ve got another first: the CDC has issued a travel warning for somewhere inside the United States. Specifically, don’t plan a trip to Miami if you’re going to get pregnant any time soon.
DON’T MISS: What if the iPhone 8’s screen is even more durable than Gorilla Glass 5?
So far, 14 people have been infected with Zika in Wynwood, a suburb of Miami. At the request of Florida’s governor, the CDC is sending an emergency response team to Miami to help lead the investigation and response to the outbreak.
“I have requested that the CDC activate their Emergency Response Team to assist DOH in their investigation, research and sample collection efforts,” said Governor Scott in a statement. “Their team will consist of public health experts whose role is to augment our response efforts to confirmed local transmissions of the Zika virus.”
The CDC has said that any women currently pregnant, or any couples that are planning to get pregnant, should avoid travel to Wynwood. The long-term effects of Zika have not been fully studied, but it’s best known for causing birth defects to unborn children.
To try and help limit the outbreak, Florida has started contracting with local companies to reduce the mosquito population in the affected area. The state is also urging nearby residents to drain any standing water, and use bug spray to limit possible mosquito bites.
