HEALTH

Officials: South Beach halts Zika's spread, but risks remain

Jennifer Kay The Associated Press
Published Friday, December 9, 2016 1:09PM EST

A Florida Department of Health employee processes a urine sample to test for the Zika virus, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP / Lynne Sladky)

Text:

MIAMI -- Florida's governor and tourism officials are declaring victory over Zika in South Beach. But the virus remains a risk in Miami-Dade County.

Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the popular tourist destination had been cleared of active Zika transmission.

Officials credited the beginning of South Florida's cool winter season with suppressing disease-carrying mosquito populations, along with aggressive mosquito control measures.

Isolated Zika infections remain under investigation elsewhere in Miami-Dade County. Florida Health Secretary Celeste Philip says officials expect travellers to continue bringing Zika into the state. The virus also can be sexually transmitted.

Zika can cause severe brain-related birth defects when pregnant women become infected. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge Zika testing for all pregnant women and their partners if they've travelled to Miami-Dade County since Aug. 1.