Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Once the floodwaters start to recede, there could be a different threat waiting. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 
 
 An Aedes aegypti mosquito, known to carry the Zika virus, is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) 
 
 The massive flooding across southeastern Louisiana over the weekend could bring an increased risk for the Zika virus after the waters recede, an expert in tropical medicine said Sunday. 
 
 Strong floodwaters often wash away mosquito eggs, which would be good news. 
 
 But mosquito eggs already laid in containers, such as empty buckets or tires, could be protected from surging water and then be stimulated to hatch after the flooding recedes, said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. 
 
 “We could be seeing an increase number of Aedes aegypti now in the coming weeks,” he said about the mosquito species that carries the Zika virus. "This is crunch time." 
 
 Ben Beard of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed that the coming weeks will be important for monitoring the number of mosquitoes, but he does not expect an increase in the ones that carry the Zika virus, although he admits there is uncertainty. 
 
 "I wouldn’t say right off that there’s reason to believe that (the flooding) would have significant impact," said Beard, deputy incident manager for the Zika outbreak program. 
 
 He said there could be an increase in other types of mosquitoes, but he pointed out that the Zika-carrying species is smaller and more easily washed away by floodwaters. 
 
 Beard added that if the CDC and local monitoring authorities do begin to see increased numbers, it would trigger a massive response to prevent the spread of Zika. 
 
 No local cases of Zika have been reported in Louisiana, but Hotez said there could possibly be cases that have gone unreported. Florida is the only state where Zika was contracted locally, and not from travel outside the country. 
 
 Flooding could increase the risk for other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as West Nile Virus, Hotez said. 
 
 Mustapha Debboun, director of mosquito control at Texas' Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, told USA TODAY in April that flooding can "create plenty of breeding habitats for mosquitoes, which will increase in larger populations as the temperature and humidity rises." 
 
 Follow Ryan Miller on Twitter @MILLERdfillmore 
 
 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Scientists are getting closer to developing an effective Zika vaccine | 1:01 The U.S. is enrolling more than 2,000 people in experimental Zika vaccine tests. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 1 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Florida may deploy bats to fight Zika | 1:01 There are some hitches to the proposal, though. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 2 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS The CDC is worried about sperm from Florida carrying Zika virus | 0:49 CDC issues a warning for these Florida sperm banks. Veuer's Emily Drooby (@emilydrooby) has the story. Buzz60 3 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika risk was spread further than previously thought | 0:26 Local transmission of the Zika virus in Florida may have occurred as early as June 15 of last year. USA TODAY 4 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS A Zika solution? Researchers release promising initial reports | 0:58 Researchers are speeding up studies to find vaccines and drugs to treat Zika, which has spread worldwide at an alarming rate Time 5 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Florida lifts last Zika Zone, but risk remains | 1:09 Despite Florida Governor Rick Scott lifting the last Zika advisory on South Beach, health officials warn the disease can still be spread. Sean Dowling (@seandowlingtv) has more. Buzz60 6 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Genetically modified mosquitoes could battle Zika virus in Florida | 0:47 Officials want to use the mosquitoes to combat Zika, but some residents question the safety of the modified pests. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 7 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Miami Doctors Monitor Zika Infected Pregnancy | 1:10 Doctors say that so far there the unborn baby girl's head is developing normally, but they will continue to monitor fetal development. (Oct. 23) AP 8 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika is no longer an international health emergency | 0:37 But the World Health Organization says this announcement doesn't mean the virus isn't still a threat. Newslook 9 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika Vaccine Trials Begin In Baltimore | 1:46 Zika vaccine trials began Tuesday at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine in Baltimore. Some volunteers say they are doing it in hopes that pregnant women one day will not have to fear the virus linked to severe birth defects. (Sept. 13) AP 10 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Obama: Hopeful After Zika, Budget Talks | 1:08 President Obama wrapped up a meeting with congressional leaders Monday by declaring himself hopeful that an agreement can be struck to keep the government running and provide money to take care of the worsening Zika crisis. (Sept. 12) AP 11 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Miami residents voice support for Zika spraying | 1:17 Aerial insecticide spraying to combat mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus is underway in Miami Beach. Despite some residents’ opposition to the spraying, others think it is the right thing to do. (Sept. 9) AP 12 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Funding for Zika Stalled on Capitol Hill | 1:41 Senate leaders from both parties came out Wednesday blaming the other side for not getting a bill approved with much needed funding for Zika. (Sept. 7) AP 13 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Congressman brings mosquitoes to House floor | 0:34 "This is the fear of Floridians, right here" Time 14 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Ryan: Senate totally partisan with Zika funding | 0:35 House Speaker Paul Ryan called out Senate members for being 'blatantly political' in blocking Republican measures to fund Zika prevention. (Sept. 7) AP 15 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Residents Protest Zika Spraying in Miami | 0:37 Some residents in Florida protested the aerial spraying oF an insecticide called naled for the second time this week. The protests prompted officials to delay the spraying by a day to Friday. (Sept. 9) AP 16 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO: Zika Virus Still Spreading | 1:17 The World Health Organization said Friday that the Zika virus remains an international health emergency, as the virus continues to spread to new countries. (Sept. 2) AP 17 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS The latest on Zika, from America’s point man on infectious diseases | 7:34 Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discusses prospects for a Zika vaccine with USA TODAY medical reporter Liz Szabo. Rene Alston 18 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS A public health emergency is declared for Puerto Rico | 0:45 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency for Puerto Rico which will free up funding to help with the fight against the Zika virus. Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY 19 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Could massive flooding in Louisiana increase the risk for Zika? | 1:07 Once the floodwaters start to recede, there could be a different threat waiting. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 20 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Obama administration to transfer $34 million to fund Zika vaccine efforts | 0:38 Obama will transfer over $30 million to help with Zika vaccines. USA TODAY 21 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC encouraged by first aerial spraying for Zika | 1:44 The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says aerial spraying of the insecticide naled is killing many mosquitoes in a Miami neighborhood where the insects apparently transmitted Zika to 15 people. (Aug. 4) AP 22 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Obama: Zika is 'serious threat to Americans' | 2:10 As Zika escalates into a public health crisis, President Barack Obama on Thursday sought to pressure congressional Republicans over funding, encouraging voters to "call your members of Congress and tell them to do their job." (Aug. 4) AP 23 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika cases growing in Florida | 0:21 There are now 14 people with the Zika virus in south Florida. Florida Governor Rick Scott is calling on the CDC for an emergency response team. 24 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Killing Zika-Spreading Mosquito Difficult | 2:48 CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said Tuesday that it is proving harder than expected to eradicate mosquitoes in an area of Miami where the insects have been found to be spreading the Zika virus. (Aug. 2) AP 25 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Pregnant women getting tested for Zika in Miami | 2:10 Fearing devastating birth defects associated with the Zika virus, hundreds of pregnant women living near downtown Miami are getting tested. Obstetricians are handing out kits that include bug spray with DEET. (Aug. 2) AP 26 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Raw: Mosquito Spraying in Miami's Wynwood Area | 0:59 Mosquito spraying continues in Miami's Wynwood section. It's believed mosquitoes infected 14 people in Florida with Zika, all in that area. Pregnant women are warned to stay away. Zika infections in pregnant women can cause birth defects. (Aug. 2) AP 27 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Florida's Zika problem could be much bigger than numbers suggest | 1:06 Florida announced a second wave of Zika cases from local mosquitoes. Ten more cases have been confirmed after the first four were announced Friday. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 28 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS First cases of locally transmitted Zika confirmed in Florida | 0:56 More than 1,600 cases have been reported in the continental U.S. alone. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 29 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Rubio urges federal government for Zika funding | 1:41 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio urged both Congress and the Obama administration to take action on funding to combat the spread of the Zika virus. (Aug. 3) AP 30 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Baby with Zika virus born in New Jersey | 0:47 On Tuesday officials at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey revealed that a mother with the Zika virus gave birth to a baby with microcephaly at the hospital. USA TODAY 31 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS It looks like Zika Numbers have tripled in the U.S. in one week | 1:03 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says pregnancies can be affected even if women don't show symptoms. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 32 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Rio Mayor Tries to Ease Zika Fears | 1:05 Visitors to this year's Olympic Games in Brazil are safe from the Zika virus, according to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, However, one medical expert disagrees. (May 16) AP 33 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS 6 Things To Know About Zika Virus | 2:39 CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden answers questions about the Zika virus and new guidelines issued by the health agency on Friday. (Feb. 5) AP 34 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS White House taps Ebola funds to temporarily stave off Zika | 1:08 The Obama administration says transferring over $500 million from the Ebola fight still won't be enough to properly combat Zika.Video provided by Newsy Newslook 35 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS The fight against the Zika Virus starts with mosquito control | 3:21 Following a Dengue Fever outbreak in 2009 the Key West Mosquito Control District ramped up their domestic mosquito control program to target the Aedes aegytpi mosquito which is also the mosquito most responsible for spreading the Zika Virus. Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY 36 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Dr. Anthony Fauci warns funding stalemate threatens to slow effort to contain Zika virus | 10:50 NAIAD Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases, warned that a continuing funding stalemate between the White House and Congress threatens to slow efforts to contain the Zika virus "to a dangerous level". 37 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS U.S. swimmers address Zika, Michael Phelps, Rio Olympics | 1:44 Members and hopefuls from the 2016 U.S. Olympic swimming team address concerns over the Zika virus, Michael Phelps' return and competing in the Olympics for the first time. USA TODAY Sports 38 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS AP: Insecticide Shipments Stopped As Zika Spread | 2:38 An Associated Press investigation has found that Brazil's fight against Zika was hampered last fall because the Health Ministry ran out of larvicide. Shipments across the country were suspended between August and October. (March 18) AP 39 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Olympic media summit: Zika virus on athletes' minds | 1:56 USA TODAY Sports' Rachel Axon recaps it all. 40 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Rio de Janeiro firefighters, drones join Zika battle | 1:07 Firefighters in the state of Rio de Janeiro will use drones to identify potential Zika mosquito breeding areas Video provided by AFP Newslook 41 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika: Pain and panic in Brazil | 4:28 USA Today Sports travels across Brazil and finds out what action is being taken to combat Zika and its potential heartbreaking complications. USA TODAY Sports 42 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO director: Zika is 'mysterious and tricky virus' | 1:11 USA TODAY Sports' Martin Rogers reporting from Brazil, where the Director General of the World Health Organization is addressing the growing Zika virus crisis. USA TODAY Sports 43 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Fauci: US Transmission of Zika Expected | 2:08 Disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Friday that there have not yet been any cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the continental United States, bud added he wouldn't be surprised if that changes. (Feb. 12) AP 44 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS US Olympic Teams Preparing for Zika Threat | 1:17 The CEO of USA Track and Field says Olympic teams are looking into ways to minimize the threat of the Zika virus when athletes travel to Rio de Janeiro for this year's Olympic games. (Feb. 11) AP 45 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Hopes for Zika Vaccine Trials By Late Summer | 1:04 The director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) says that he hopes to have a Zika vaccine enter a "Phase 1 clinical trial" by late summer. (Feb. 11) AP 46 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Pa. Student Has Recovered After Contracting Zika | 1:11 Lehigh University said in a message to students, staff and faculty on Wednesday that a student had traveled abroad over winter break and later tested positive for Zika virus, but has since recovered "and is feeling well." (Feb. 11) AP 47 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS USOC addresses Zika virus concerns | 0:47 The USOC will add disease specialists to address added concerns about the spread of the Zika virus in Rio. USA TODAY Sports 48 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Expect 'significant number' of Zika cases | 1:41 CDC Director Thomas Frieden told a congressional committee Wednesday that the U.S. should expect to see "significant numbers" of infections of the Zika virus in territories including Puerto Rico. (Feb. 10) AP 49 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika virus could keep Hope Solo out of Olympics | 0:56 Due to the spreading Zika virus, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo told SI.com, If I had to make the choice today, I wouldn't go [to the Olympics]." Time_Sports 50 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Officials confirm first case of Zika virus in Indiana | 2:40 Zika virus, which has been linked to thousands of birth defects in Latin America, has spread rapidly and made its way to North America. Indiana has its first confirmed case of the Zika virus, state health officials said Feb 9, 2016. (Produced by Joe Wochit 51 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS The White House is asking For $1.8B to counter The Zika virus | 0:56 The money would go to mosquito control programs, research for a vaccine, health services for low-income pregnant women and more. Newslook 52 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Brevard Officials Give Tips on Helping Fight Against Zika Virus | 0:47 Bruh-VARD County officials are enlisting help from the public to fight the spread of the ZEE-ka virus. Virginia Barker, the county's Natural Resources Management Department director, says best defense is to reduce standing water outdoors. The wate Wochit 53 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS FL Residents Take Steps to Prep Against Zika | 1:41 Preparing for a fight against the mosquito-born virus Zika, concerned residents in Florida hire exterminators and get educated. (Feb. 5) AP 54 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Experts Call For More Resources to Combat Zika | 1:57 President Barack Obama is asking Congress for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus and the mosquitoes that spread it here and abroad. (Feb. 8) AP 55 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Sexually transmitted Zika virus reported in Texas | 2:38 The Dallas County health department has confirmed two people in the Texas county have tested positive for the Zika virus. One patient had sexual contact with another infected individual; the other patient contracted the virus while in Venezuela. WFAA-TV 56 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika Spread Through Blood Transfusion in Brazil | 1:13 2 people in Brazil contracted the Zika virus through blood transfusions, a municipal health official says, presenting a fresh challenge to efforts to contain the virus on top of the disclosure of a case of sexual transmission in the US. (Feb. 4) AP 57 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Guarding your home from the Zika virus | 1:10 A USA TODAY motion graphic showing how to prevent your home from becoming a breeding ground for the Aedes mosquito, known to spread the Zika virus. Source: National Environmental Health Association Ramon Padilla Berna Elibuyuk and Liz Szabo, USA TODAY 58 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Expert: Majority of Blood Supply Safe from Zika | 1:27 With Brazilian officials confirming two people contracted Zika virus through blood transfusions, there is concern more cases could appear. Experts say there are ways to pre-screen blood donors to "cut down significantly on the risk." (Feb. 4) AP 59 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Doctor: Many More Will Be Infected With Zika | 1:20 A sexually transmitted case of Zika in Texas has scientists scrambling to understand how much of a risk infection through sex is for the usually mosquito-spread illness. (Feb. 4) AP 60 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Wisc Mother Shares Experience with Microcephaly | 2:22 The Zika virus is drawing worldwide attention to a devastating birth defect that until now has gotten little public notice. A Wisconsin mother is all too familiar with the condition_ her infant son has microcephaly. (Feb. 4) AP 61 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Olympic committee dealing with Zika virus | 0:56 Update on the Zika virus and how it may impact the Summer Olympics in Rio. USA TODAY Sports 62 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC Emergency Op. Center Tracks Zika Virus | 1:11 The Associated Press gets a look inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is monitoring the spread of the Zika virus from their Emergency Operations Center. (Feb. 3) AP 63 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Health ministers convene in Uruguay over Zika | 0:43 Health ministers representing 15 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo on Wednesday to discuss a common policy to combat the regional expansion of the Zika virus. (Feb. 3) AP 64 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS 5 things to know about Zika virus | 1:00 Zika virus, which has been linked to thousands of birth defects in Latin America, has spread rapidly and made its way to North America. Here are five things you need to know about the virus. VPC 65 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Genetically modified mosquitoes released to take on Zika Virus | 2:07 Feb. 3 -- A small British biotech firm is taking a leading role in the fight against the Zika virus - by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into affected areas. Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie visited their breeding lab near Oxford to find out more Bloomberg 66 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Dallas County Patient Gets Zika Virus From Sex | 1:19 Health officials say a patient in Dallas County, Texas, has acquired the Zika virus through sex. Officials confirm the patient was infected after having sexual contact with an ill person who returned from a country where Zika was present. (Feb. 3) AP 67 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO Expert says Zika Vaccine Likely "Years Away" | 1:22 A senior World Health Oranization (WHO) doctor on Tuesday told journalists that a vaccine for the Zika virus "may be years not months away." Dr. Antony Costello said it depends on the biology of the virus. (Feb. 2) AP 68 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Brevard Prepared to Fend Off Zika Virus | 0:30 The World Health Organization announced on Monday that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an "extraordinary event" that merits being declared an international emergency. (Feb. 1) AP The same type of mosquito spreading the Zik Wochit 69 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Sexually transmitted Zika virus reported in Texas | 2:38 The Dallas County health department has confirmed two people in the Texas county have tested positive for the Zika virus. One patient had sexual contact with another infected individual; the other patient contracted the virus while in Venezuela. 70 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO declares Zika outbreak a global emergency | 1:55 The World Health Organization announced on Monday that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an "extraordinary event" that merits being declared an international emergency. (Feb. 1) AP 71 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika virus: 5 things you need to know | 1:00 Zika, a virus transmitted through mosquito bites, is affecting multiple countries in Latin America, and is expected to spread to the U.S. VPC 72 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Zika virus prompts Brazilian petition For more legal abortion access | 1:09 The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil prompted a petition for more access to legal abortion. Video provided by Newsy Newslook 73 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO Holds Crisis Meeting on Zika Virus | 1:28 The World Health Organization (WHO) has begun a crisis meeting considering whether the explosive spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to birth defects in the Americas, should be declared a global health emergency. (Feb. 1) AP 74 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Expert Says Zika Outbreak Not Likely in the U.S. | 1:45 Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the chances of a Zika outbreak in the United States is not likely. Fauci spoke at a luncheon event in Washington, DC on Friday. (Jan. 29) AP 75 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Heat, Poverty, Fuel Brazil Zika Outbreak | 1:29 In Recife, Brazil, the epicenter of the country's Zika outbreak, authorities struggle to control the mosquitoes that spread the virus, while families struggle with birth defects that may be linked to the disease. (Jan. 29) AP 76 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Mosquitoes are spreading a rare virus | 0:44 In the past year, Zika has spread from Africa and Asia through the Americas. In Brazil, the number of infants born with shrunken, malformed brains has gone up by a factor of 10 since Zika entered the country. USA TODAY 77 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Pregnant Women at Greatest Risk for Zika | 3:34 Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning pregnant women to postpone travel plans to areas where Zika virus has been reported in the hopes of reducing risks of birth defects and spread of virus. (Jan. 28) AP 78 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Concerns Zika Virus Could Spread Through Americas | 2:33 The Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, has been found in nearly two dozen Latin American countries. The virus is suspected of causing birth defects. Health officials are concerned it could spread to the US and Canada. (Jan. 28) AP 79 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Rio Olympics monitoring spread of Zika virus | 0:35 With the Rio Olympics seven months away, daily inspections of stagnant water in Brazil are ongoing where mosquitoes spread the Zika virus. 80 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS WHO To Hold Emergency Session on Zika Virus | 2:14 The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said it was convening an emergency committee on Monday to decide if the Zika virus outbreak should be declared an international health emergency. (Jan. 28) AP 81 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Recruiting Students in Fight Against Zika | 2:51 The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are already buzzing among us. The U.S. government could use some help figuring out exactly where. No experience is necessary for what the USDA envisions as a nationwide experiment in citizen-science. (May 16) AP 82 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC Discusses Rise in Emerging Zika Virus | 2:09 The CDC says there is growing concern about the emerging, mosquito-borne Zika virus after a surge in cases of a rare brain defect among babies in Brazil. Although cases of the Zika virus are still rare in the U.S., they're on the rise. (Jan. 20) AP 83 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Texas border town prepares for Zika outbreak | 2:00 The U.S./Mexico border town of Brownsville, Texas is preparing for a full-on outbreak of the Zika virus as cases trickle north. 84 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Fighting the ZIka Virus with tiny fish | 0:45 The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District is fighting the Zika Virus with a tiny fish called gambusia or mosquitofish. The gambusia eat the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is the one most responsible for the spread of the Zika Virus. Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY 85 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Zika definitely causes severe birth defects | 1:28 US health officials say there is no longer any doubt that the Zika virus causes babies to born with abnormally small heads and other severe brain defects. (April 13) AP 86 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Miami-Dade Takes Steps to Prevent Spread of Zika | 1:49 After the Centers for Disease Control announced a more ominous situation of the Zika virus, Miami-Dade officials are trying to be proactive in managing its spread, evaluating waterlogged areas and trying to control mosquito populations. (April 12) AP 87 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS Miami-Dade Officials Proactive Against Zika | 0:59 Miami-Dade Officials Proactive Against Zika AP 88 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS 5 things you may not know about the Zika virus | 1:04 The CDC announced that the Zika virus may be 'scarier than we initially thought,' saying the mosquito-borne virus could be linked to more birth defects than previously believed. 89 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Zika virus scarier than we thought | 1:36 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Puerto Rico could see "hundreds of thousands of cases of Zika virus." Officials also said the rest of the country needs to be prepared for possible outbreaks. (April 11) AP 90 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS White House Urges Congress to Act on Zika | 1:35 The Obama administration has been urging Congress to come up with nearly $2 billion dollars in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus. Wednesday, it announced that it's transferring leftover money from the recent fight against Ebola. (April 6) AP 91 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC Hosts Zika Action Plan Summit in Atlanta | 1:57 The CDC hosted hundreds of state and local officials and experts for the Zika Action Plan Summit to provide information and tools to improve preparedness and response to the Zika virus. (April 1) AP 92 of 93 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE ZIKA VIRUS IN THE NEWS CDC: Sex can wait if you've been near Zika | 1:22 Americans who might have been exposed to Zika and are trying to get pregnant should know these new government guidelines. 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 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2bsxNQv ||||| For the first time, the Zika virus has prompted public health officials to warn pregnant women to avoid traveling to a part of the continental United States. The travel advisory comes in response to a growing outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in South Florida. 
 
 The state on Monday said there are 10 more people who have been infected with the Zika virus who likely contracted it from local mosquitoes, bringing the total number of such cases in the state to 14. All of the cases have surfaced in a densely populated community north of downtown Miami. 
 
 [In Miami, Zika’s arrival greeted with worry — and shrugs] 
 
 Because the virus can have devastating consequences for a fetus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged pregnant women to avoid traveling to the area, and for pregnant women who live and work there to make every effort to avoid mosquito bites and to get tested for possible exposure during each prenatal visit. It also advised women to use protection during sex, because the virus can be transmitted sexually. 
 
 Furthermore, the CDC is advising that all pregnant women should be asked about travel to Zika-infested areas during routine prenatal visits. Any pregnant women who have traveled to Zika areas -- including this area of Florida on or after June 15 -- are advised to talk with their healthcare providers and get tested for Zika. 
 
 For couples trying to have a baby, women and men who traveled to this area should wait at least eight weeks before conceiving a pregnancy. Men with symptoms of Zika virus disease should wait at least six months after symptoms begin to attempt conception. 
 
 [U.S. confirms Florida Zika cases are first local transmission in any state] 
 
 CDC Director Tom Frieden said the agency issued the travel warning because of the additional Zika infections that were identified in the last 48 hours, and because of new information that indicates mosquito control efforts are not working as well as officials would have liked. 
 
 Everything you ever wanted to know about the Zika virus and its spread across North and South America. (Daron Taylor,Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) 
 
 Frieden said it's possible the insects have developed resistance to some of the insecticides being used, or that the mosquitoes are able to continue laying eggs in "cryptic breeding places," or that it may simply be that it's very difficult to do mosquito control in this particular area. 
 
 He said more infections are likely, because four out of five people with Zika don't have symptoms. 
 
 Although the CDC issued a similar travel warning for Puerto Rico in January because of widespread transmission on the island, this is the first time the agency has issued such a travel advisory for the continental U.S., Frieden said. 
 
 [Why can’t we just get rid of all the mosquitoes?] 
 
 The CDC already has two of its experts on the ground in Florida, and six more will be there by Tuesday as part of a rapid-response team. The experts include specialists in birth defects, mosquito control and community engagement. 
 
 In a statement, Gov. Rick Scott (R) said state health department officials believe that active transmission is occurring in one several-block area that was announced on Friday. This remains the only area of the state where the health department has confirmed ongoing local transmissions of Zika. Among the 10 new cases announced Monday, six people are asymptomatic and were identified from the door-to-door community survey that the health department is conducting. 
 
 The Zika area is a dense, diverse section about one-mile-square that includes the neighborhood of Wynwood. It has now become the first area in the continental United States with confirmed local spread of the Zika virus. State and federal officials have warned for months that such a transmission was inevitable. 
 
 Wynwood is one of Miami’s trendiest neighborhoods and draws visitors from around the world to gawk at the array of murals and exquisite graffiti on the walls of warehouses. Once known primarily as a Puerto Rican enclave, and sometimes called Little San Juan, Wynwood has gone through multiple transitions in recent decades and a recent spurt of gentrification. In the 1980s it became a magnet for artists looking for affordable studio space. It's now internationally renowned for its outdoor art as bars, cafes and art galleries spread throughout the neighborhood. 
 
 Tourists were still visiting the neighborhood this weekend, largely unconcerned about the Zika outbreak, according to local news reports. 
 
 At the present time, there is no need for the travel advisory to be broader than this specific Zika-affected area, Frieden said. Unlike other mosquito-borne diseases that can be spread by humans and animals, there are no other animal reservoirs for the Zika virus other than infected humans. The virus spreads most easily in crowded settings where people don't have access to air condition or window screens, and where there are large numbers of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. 
 
 In addition, the mosquito can only travel about about 150 yards during its lifetime, he said. 
 
 "There wouldn't be a technical or scientific basis to give a broader recommendation," Frieden said. 
 
 "Nothing we've seen so far indicates widespread transmission," he said. "But it's certainly possible we could be seeing sustained transmission in small areas." 
 
 About 40 million people from the United States travel every year to the nearly 50 Zika-affected countries that are mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean, and could get infected unknowingly through a mosquito bite. "Everyone coming back should use repellent for three weeks in case a mosquito bites them and they get infected," Frieden said. 
 
 Because the Aedes aegypti mosquito is also present in parts of 30 states, pregnant women in all of those places should protect themselves against mosquito bites, he said. 
 
 [How a tiny mosquito became one of the world's "most efficient killers"] 
 
 “The frustration is that this wasn’t unexpected,” and Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “It’s not like we were caught by surprise. We knew this train has been heading our way.” 
 
 Hotez said the outbreak in Florida is beginning to make clear why lawmakers on Capitol Hill should have to appropriated funding for states and counties to prepare for the Zika threat. The Obama administration requested nearly $2 billion to prepare for the virus in February, but the House and Senate left for their summer recess last month without approving any new funding. 
 
 Florida Gov. Rick Scott on asking for aid to battle the Zika virus: 'This is a national issue, we're just at the front of it.' (Reuters) 
 
 “Congress didn’t do their homework,” Hotez said, noting that the congressional recess corresponds nearly exactly with the peak of the season when mosquitoes traditionally spread the most viruses such as Zika. “They left. So I don’t have kind words to say about Congress right now.” 
 
 Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been deadlocked for months over a $1.1 billion spending bill that would help fight the spread of Zika and there is no sign that outbreak in Florida will spur either side to action. 
 
 Democrats in the Senate have blocked the funding package drafted by congressional Republicans over politically motivated language, including provisions that would deny Zika-related funds from being sent Planned Parenthood and loosen environmental regulations on pesticides. Democrats also want the funding to be increased to nearly $2 billion without corresponding cuts elsewhere in the budget. 
 
 Last week, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) call a special session of Congress. “We need to act now," Reid said. 
 
 Senate Republicans responded by blaming Democrats for blocking the House-passed spending bill. McConnell and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have both said President Obama should use money left over from fighting the Ebola virus to combat Zika. On Monday, Rubio also pushed for Congress to come back to Washington early to vote on a long-term Zika spending bill. 
 
 "A week ago, before the cases were announced, I had asked President Obama to take $300 million that’s disposable, that he has under his control," Rubio said at an event in Clearwater. "I’m prepared to go back in a moment’s notice and vote on this and get it done quickly given the state of affairs now." 
 
 The lack of funding has hindered the ability of many localities to conduct surveillance that could identify new cases of Zika, Hotez said. In many parts of the Gulf Coast, underfunded districts simply have no capacity to monitor for the disease or to actively fight the mosquitoes that spread it. 
 
 [Without federal help, counties brace to confront Zika on their own] 
 
 “[Miami] is just the one outbreak we know about,” he said. “I think it’s equally possible that multiple outbreaks are simultaneously occurring up and down the Gulf Coast and Florida.” 
 
 Like other communities, Hotez said, South Florida has the major elements needed to lay the groundwork for a Zika outbreak – the Aedes aegypti mosquito that primarily carries it, a population never before exposed to the virus and densely populated areas. 
 
 “We should expect to see multiple outbreaks of varying sizes occur in South Florida and the Gulf Coast during the traditional peak of arbovirus season,” he said. “Everything we’ve known about this epidemic in the Western Hemisphere indicates this is a virus that, when it gains a foothold in a population, can aggressively spread.” 
 
 Scott said health officials have been testing individuals in three locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties for possible local transmissions through mosquito bites. Two locations have been ruled out for possible local spread. His statement did not provide additional details on location. 
 
 [Zika is spreading explosively in Puerto Rico, report says] 
 
 Since the health department began its investigation July 7, more than 200 people in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — who live or work near the likely mosquito-borne transmissions — have been tested for the virus. These people have provided blood and urine specimens. 
 
 Of the 14 individuals identified, two are women and 12 are men. The governor's statement did not say whether either woman was pregnant. 
 
 Although no mosquitoes have yet tested positive for the virus, Frieden explained that confirming infections in mosquitoes is much harder than confirming them in people — which is why there can be local transmission even in the absence of positive insect tests. 
 
 Most of the 14 infections were identified within a much smaller geographical section in the center of the Zika area, Frieden said. He described it as 150-yard area surrounding two workplaces. 
 
 Mosquito control is difficult in this area because it has a mix of industrial and residential buildings. 
 
 Testing for Zika is challenging because four out of five people don't show symptoms. The virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it can also be transmitted through sex. That means someone who has been bitten by an infected mosquito could unknowingly spread the virus to a sex partner. And an infected person can pass the virus back to another mosquito, which can then infect another person through a bite. 
 
 June 15 is the earliest known date that one of the 14 people in Florida could have been infected, the CDC said. 
 
 [Zika can cause microcephaly even if moms have no symptoms] 
 
 Scott said Florida would rely on the approach it has taken in tackling similar mosquito-borne viruses, such as dengue and chikungunya, which are spread by the same mosquito species. 
 
 He encouraged residents and visitors to drain standing water and use bug spray. But the governor added: "Florida remains safe and open for business. This year, we have already welcomed a record 30 million tourists and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to Florida this summer.” 
 
 The exact location of where the health department believes there are active transmissions of the Zika virus is within the boundaries of the following area: NW Fifth Avenue to the west, U.S. 1 to the east, NW/NE 38th Street to the north and NW/NE 20th Street to the south. This area is about one square mile, and a map below details the area. 
 
 Gayle Love, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management, said officials have been going door-to-door in the affected area, eliminating sources of standing water and spraying for mosquitoes, both from trucks and by hand. Workers also have intensified their efforts just beyond the community where the transmission occurred, in an effort to halt further spread of the virus, she said. Officials also have rotated pesticides in an effort to combat resistance among mosquitoes to the treatments. 
 
 The local cases of Zika have gotten the attention of local residents. Love said that on Friday, the day public health officials disclosed the first locally transmitted cases, her department received 224 calls requesting mosquito abatement -- far more than any other day in recent months. "People are concerned," she said. 
 
 Still, she said it is imperative that people do their part to cover or drain any water containers around their homes and wear repellent -- messages local authorities have been trying to hammer home for months. "There’s a tremendous level of personal responsibility associated with this," she said. 
 
 One of the biggest hurdles in controlling the spread of Zika is that most people don't get sick. And in pregnancies, problems may not be apparent until six or seven or eight months later, Frieden said. 
 
 Zika can cause microcephaly, a condition where babies are born with abnormally small heads and often underdeveloped brains. But even babies who look normal at birth can have a variety of other severe neurological problems, and no one knows the scope of those problems yet. 
 
 "It is a scary situation but it's not immediately apparent to people," Frieden said. 
 
 The Aedes aegypti mosquito can breed in the smallest spots in and around homes. Its larvae don’t necessarily need water to survive, and eggs can lie dormant for a year or more, only to hatch once submerged in water. The sticky eggs glue themselves to containers as common and varied as the insides of old tires and the edges of birdbaths. 
 
 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters, especially around dawn and dusk. They can hide under beds, in closets or in other shady places. They are “sip feeders,” meaning they feed often and on multiple hosts — a practice that makes it possible to spread disease quickly. They also are adept, experts say, at launching sneak attacks, in which they approach people from behind and bite them on the ankles and elbows to avoid being detected and slapped. 
 
 Joel Achenbach and Kelsey Snell contributed to this report. 
 
 Read more: 
 
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– As thousands of people deal with treacherous flooding in southern Louisiana, a new danger may enter into the mix: increased risk of a mosquito surge over the next few weeks, and with them, the potential spread of the Zika virus, a tropical medicine expert tells USA Today. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine says that mosquito eggs lying around in vessels such as tires and buckets may start hatching en masse once the floodwaters pull back, and if enough of those eggs come from Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti insects, it's going to be "crunch time." Hotez also warns the risk could similarly rise for other diseases linked to mosquitoes, including West Nile. Louisiana so far hasn't had a documented case of Zika contracted locally, though there have been around two dozen cases of travel-related Zika reported there, per the Shreveport Times. But another expert isn't so sure about the Zika risk. Ben Beard, who helps run the CDC's Zika outbreak initiative, concurs there may soon be a proliferation of the blood-hungry mosquitoes in Louisiana due to the massive flooding, but not necessarily of the Zika-carrying kind, as that variety is tinier and therefore more likely to be swept away with the floodwaters. Meanwhile, Zika is already affecting the Bayou State in another way: Per KENS, blood donors are desperately being sought there because locals who've recently traveled to Zika-affected regions can't give blood for about a month after they've come back from their trip, a logistical issue that, along with other factors, has caused a blood shortage in the state. (The Zika situation in Florida isn't improving.)