Press. voanews.com
Two cases of the
Zika virus have been identified in Miami Beach, one of the world's most popular
tourist spots, U.S. media reported Thursday. The mosquito-borne virus, first
detected in Brazil last year, is relatively mild in most cases. However,
pregnant women who are infected with Zika risk giving birth to babies with a
congenital defect called microcephaly, which causes an abnormally small head
and developmental problems.
The first local
transmission of the Zika virus in the United States was detected in the Wynwood
neighborhood of Miami, in the southern state of Florida, earlier this month.
Florida's Department of Health said there are 35 cases of likely local
transmission in the state, including the two new cases that were identified
Thursday outside of the Wynwood neighborhood.
Miami Beach
officials were not available to comment, although The Miami Herald reported
Thursday that Miami Beach officials were sent to the area to inspect for
mosquito breeding sites. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
referred calls by Reuters to state health officials.
The spread of
the virus is alarming for the hospitality industry in South Florida, which is a
huge tourist destination. In 2015, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors
Bureau said 15.5 million people spent at least one night in the Greater Miami
area and generated nearly $24.4 billion in revenue. Of those visitors, 48
percent stayed in Miami Beach, the bureau said.
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