Zika Virus in Miami: CT Warns Certain Residents to Avoid Traveling to Portion of the Florida City

State Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino is warning Connecticut women who are pregnant, or want to become pregnant, to temporarily avoid traveling to "an area north of Downtown Miami," because mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus have been found there.

Dr. Pino is not telling residents to avoid Miami altogether, just the neighborhoods north of downtown. The state has issued similar warnings for residents to avoid other locations due to the Zika virus.

"Based on confirmation by the State of Florida and the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] of several cases of locally transmitted Zika virus, the CDC is advising pregnant women, women who plan to become pregnant and their sexual partners to avoid one area of Miami just north of the city’s downtown," said Dr. Pino in a statement. "I encourage Connecticut women who are or plan to become pregnant and their partners to avoid this neighborhood, should they be travelling to Miami. While Zika virus causes only mild symptoms in most people, it can have devastating, life-long consequences for unborn children."

Dr. Pino was quick to add that the mosquito suspected of transmitting Zika in that particular Miami neighborhood has not been found in Connecticut. However, another mosquito capable of transmitting Zika, the Asian Tiger Mosquito, has been trapped in several Connecticut towns this summer, including Stratford and Bridgeport.

"While none of these mosquitoes have tested positive for Zika thus far, I encourage Connecticut residents to help control mosquito populations by removing standing water outside homes and eliminating trash, debris and other materials that can collect water and provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes," said Pino.

At the direction of Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, the state Department of Public Health has taken additional steps "to actively detect any possible local transmission of Zika in Connecticut and will remain vigilant" to protect Connecticut residents from Zika virus.

"To date, 45 Connecticut residents have tested positive for Zika virus, all occurring as a result of travel to Zika-affected countries or territories in the Caribbean and Central and South America,” said Pino.