The Florida Department of Health is investigating its first possible case of Zika that may have been contracted from a mosquito here in Florida, not from another country. It would be the first of it's kind in the Continental US.
Although the Department of Health didn't offer anyone locally to talk to News 6 about what that means for Central Florida, doctors at Orlando Health tell News 6 it was only a matter of time.
"So we have one, we could see more," said Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Antonio Crespo. "I'm not surprised. We do have the mosquitoes here in Florida so it was really a matter of time until we saw a case that was transmitted from one of these patients via the mosquito to another resident in Florida."
And Dr. Crespo says he wants to use that time to properly educate the public. Especially pregnant women, who he says are at the most risk with the virus as Zika has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly.
It's a big fear for Orlando mom Ashley Pitzer.
"It's kind of scary," she said. "Mosquitoes are everywhere in Florida so it's just like a natural thing we have and I'm like what do I do? What do any of us do?"
But her midwife Jennie Joseph says the answer is simple, protect yourself. She says many pregnant women rightfully have the same fears.
"Every pregnant woman has fear in her heart around this issue," Joseph told News 6. "We don't have enough information, we are not getting the information to them."
But she says the clinic she works at, Common Sense Childbirth, is working to get results and get women educated on how to avoid getting Zika.
"We are going to have what we call Zika Fridays," she said. "We have a safe version of DEET, it's actually ecalyptus and lemon oil and we are going to be providing it free of charge and free condoms for the guys with education and support."
Those free sessions begin this Friday.
Dr. Crespo says while pregnant women are at risk, for the general population Zika is more like a mild flu, with symptoms leaving your body within 3 to 5 days.
If you want more information on how to protect yourself from Zika, visit the CDC's website.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/zika-virus/index.html?utm_source=flhealthI
