Rick Scott, Florida governor: Miami neighborhood now Zika-free

The first neighborhood to see mosquito-borne Zika cases in the continental U.S. is no longer an active area of transmission, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday, even as federal officials expand the zone of risk in nearby Miami Beach.

As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its advisory urging pregnant women to stay away from Wynwood — an artsy district just north of downtown Miami — because no one had been infected by bug bite for 45 straight days, or three incubation cycles of the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

“We understand that this has been a difficult time for Wynwood residents and visitors,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said. “We’ve reached this point because of the tremendous progress with mosquito control in the affected area,” which included aerial spraying for adult mosquitoes and larvae.

However, the agency urged pregnant women and their partners to take steps to avoid mosquito bites if they live in or travel to the neighborhood and said those worried about Zika exposure should at least consider postponing non-essential travel to Miami-Dade County.

“We encourage people not to let down their guard. We could see additional cases,” Dr. Frieden said.

Mr. Scott said he would visit Wynwood on Sept. 30 to support businesses that were affected by the outbreak, which began in mid-June and was discovered toward the end of July, making it “ground zero” for the Zika scare within the continental U.S.

“Everybody should be coming back here and enjoying themselves,” Mr. Scott said in a press conference with local business owners, though he urged locals to continue to wear insect repellent and dump standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

Transmission continues along the seaside tourist hub of Miami Beach, however, for a total of 89 locally acquired cases statewide, according to the Florida Department of Health. Ten of the infected persons live outside of Florida, yet acquired the disease in Miami-Dade County.

Over the weekend, the CDC expanded its suspected zone of transmission to a larger swath of Miami Beach than previously identified, totaling 4.5 square miles.

The Zika virus is known to cause birth defects in infants born to infected mothers, so the CDC took the unprecedented step of warning pregnant women and their partners to stay away from Wynwood when it became “ground zero” for fear of the disease in late July.

Mr. Scott said the good news in Wynwood was counterbalanced by his disgust with Congress, which hasn’t agreed on a package of federal funds for the Zika fight.

“The federal government is not being a great partner,” said Mr. Scott,who has authorized more than $36 million in state spending to combat the disease.

The governor visited Capitol Hill last week to press for more resources, as lawmakers debate a short-term spending bill that will likely wrap in funding for Zika.

Congressional negotiators are expected to reach a deal this week, though they need to work through a series of sticking points, including whether the funds are offset with budget cuts elsewhere, or if any funds can flow to Planned Parenthood.