TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - The World Health Organization has declared the Zika Virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. So far there have been 756 cases in the U.S alone.
The Florida Department of Health is reporting the total number of Zika Virus cases over 200, and in Georgia that number is 25 plus related cases. The numbers continue to rise, leaving federal and state officials on high alert.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott says, "We have got to have a federal plan. Summer is coming and we're going to have more rainfall and we're going to have more mosquitoes."
The Zika Virus is spread mostly by mosquitoes, it can also be transmitted through sexual activity. Most people infected with the virus show no signs of the illness, although some can experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The illness can last several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Kenneth Lowery is the DPH Epidemiologist, for the South Georgia District and says, "We keep track and keep in touch with health care providers. Anyone who may present to the health care provider that they may have traveled and had symptoms, we monitor and figure out the correct avenue to get lab submissions put in properly."
Lowery is paying close attention to those travel related cases. He's also looking at those transmitted sexually. The first sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus in Georgia has been confirmed by the Georgia DPH. The woman, who had not traveled out of the U.S., was infected by her partner, who had traveled earlier this year to Brazil. The threat of the virus spreading has agencies all across state lines being proactive.
According to Lowery, "We're on more of a surveillance, we are tracking people to see who is coming in and looking for any potential infections. More or less just pushing out a lot of information to the public not only about the Zika Virus but also mosquito bites in general."
Courtney Sheeley with the Georgia Department of Public Health say, "They need to be sure anytime they are outdoors they have on mosquito spray, wear long sleeves and long pants when ever possible. I know with the heat outside it's hard right now. Make sure you're tipping that water. If you have standing water in your yard make sure you're dumping it out, get rid of it."
Dr. Mark Blackmore, professor of biology at Valdosta State University is working to collect and test various species of mosquitoes from different parts of the county. Traps are placed in the same locations every year to track what is normal and what is different from week to week and year to year to make comparisons. While his testing is for the West Nile Virus , his test can also detect the Zika Virus. A break through for health departments everywhere.
According to Sheeley, "What the Georgia Department of Public Health has decided to do is hire throughout the state Vector Mosquito surveillance Coordinators. What they will do is, districts will share these people who will help with the trapping of mosquitoes and test them to see if we have Zika in Georgia."
The Florida Department of Health reminds Floridians and visitors to protect themselves through education and practices. Staying informed and following FDH guidelines is one way of keeping safe.
Gov. Rick Scott says, "We're going to have people coming to our state and traveling to our state. My job is to keep the 20-million people who live in our state safe and the 100-million people who visit safe."
The Zika Virus is having affects on this years Summer Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Golfer Rory McIlroy won't be participating in this year's Olympics over concerns about the Zika virus.
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