Fourteen cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami- Dade County.
While that is still several counties away from Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, scientists say it is possible for the virus to spread.
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But, people have much of the power to prevent that, scientists say.
Dr. Michael Farzan, with the Scripps Research Institute, says it’s a numbers game to figure out how quickly Zika could spread to counties north of Miami-Dade, and really no way to know if or when that could happen.
It mainly depends on the precautions people take to keep it from spreading and make sure it is contained.
“I’m hoping that the chances of that happening are small. But, there is definitely concern,” Farzan said. “It’s entirely possible that other communities will see outbreaks of this scale.”
Containing 14 separate sources can be a challenge.
There are three reasons he says the spread of the virus is possible.
First, many people travel to and from the Miami-Dade area. Tourists may also not be as familiar with areas to avoid.
There are mosquitos year round in South Florida that can carry the virus.
Lastly, many people work outside year round, putting them at risk more hours of the day to possibly contract or spread the virus.
Symptoms of Zika do not always show up immediately, meaning someone can be carrying and spreading the virus without knowing.
“All three things are converging to make South Florida a very high risk area for Zika establishing a foothold in the United States,” Farzan said.
The good news is that spreading the virus is preventable.
Viruses similar to Zika have also been successfully contained in South Florida in the past. That includes West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever.
“So far we’ve been able to control it, and we hope that’s the case here.”
Health Officials are urging people who have been in or near the Wynwood area to be tested for Zika.
They also remind people to wear bug spray, check properties for standing water and cover up with long sleeves and pants to prevent being bitten by mosquitos.
