Zika pesticides saved Miami from mosquitoes
Health officials have recently announced the victory of Zika pesticides against the mosquitoes carrying the disease. The aerial spraying over Wynwood, Miami, Florida was a real success, as the substances managed to significantly reduce the populations of insects, killing both adults and their larvae. The official announcement was made on Friday, September 23.
The Florida state was one of the most affected regions in the United States by the Zika virus this summer. However, authorities inform Wynwood residents that the area is free of mosquitoes, thanks to the effective Zika pesticides. The statement is based on statistics which show that there have been reported no infection cases in more than a month.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zika pesticides used for the aerial spraying are called Aedes aegypti. The product is actually a combination of substances used to kill adult mosquitoes and larvae separately. When mixed, the products turned out to be very much effective, and even authorities were impressed by the results.
Tom Frieden declared at a conference on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
“This is a new tool in our toolkit and the strongest one we have.”
Florida faced a real Zika outbreak this year because of the mosquitoes spreading the virus. The disease started to spread last year, in Brazil. Ever since several parts of the country were affected. Mosquitoes transmit the disease to humans through their bites, which are especially dangerous for pregnant women.
Most of the reported Zika cases were related to travelers. This is why authorities do not advise pregnant women to travel in this period. Even if the Wynwood area in Miami is safe, specialists suggest that future moms should postpone their trips and voyages.
The Zika virus is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it affects unborn babies. The virus triggers birth defects, and one of the most common is microcephaly. The baby is born with a small head because the brain doesn’t develop properly. The condition can also lead to mental retardation.
According to recent studies, the number of babies born with malformations has recently doubled, and even tripled, in some parts of the world, due to the Zika outbreak. Most of the cases were reported in Brazil.
Scientists declared that their tests show no side effects of the new Zika pesticides.
Image courtesy of: Wikipedia
