Zika in Miami: What it Means and What to Do

Unless you have been off the grid for the past few months you know about Zika, the mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause microcephaly, which stunts head growth, in babies born that are born to infected pregnant women. Unfortunately, more than one dozen Zika cases have occurred due to individuals being bitten by infected mosquitos within a 500 square foot section of Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, a trendy hotspot near downtown. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a travel warning to the neighborhood, which has made for a radical downturn in business in that section of town.

The good news for Wynwood is that the warning – and the stigma surrounding it – could go away in a relatively short period of time. According to the Washington Post, this could be “when the Miami environment is no longer conducive for mosquito activity, when evidence shows that the risk of transmission has been sufficiently reduced, or when no new local-transmission cases have been identified for 45 days, which equals three mosquito incubation periods.”

The city of Miami has reacted quickly to the Zika threat, spraying the area with insecticides designed to kill mosquitoes, but as residents we should remain proactive and vigilant about mosquito protection. For instance, standing water is a mosquito breeding ground, so if you find any in a pot, in a non-running fountain, or just in the form of a big puddle, be sure to get rid of it. Spray insecticides at your own home (a Mosquitonix system is effective – and great for the re-sale of your house). Ransom Everglades, my children’s school, recommends that they wear long sleeve shirts and pants instead of shorts to their first weeks of class (which is no fun in this hot, sticky August!). You should also carry and use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellant that contains DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, which, according to EPA, are safe and effective. Try to stay indoors as much as possible: this is hard for me as a runner!

If we are all vigilant, then hopefully the Zika threat will be gone from Miami soon. Until then, be proactive and guard yourselves against mosquitoes. The next time I see you I can guarantee that I will smell like bug spray. I hope that you do too!

If you need help buying or selling a home give Ashley Cusack a call at 305.798.8685, or visit her website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate