More travel restrictions recommended as Zika spreads to U.S.

Island women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant are being advised not to travel to southern Florida after 14 peoplewere infected with the Zika virus in a section of Miami.

These are the first cases of Zika transmission by local mosquitoes in the continental U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• Canadian travellers urged to take precautions as Zika found in South Florida
• Pregnant women warned against travel to Zika-stricken part of Miami

Zika infections in pregnant women can cause a severe brain-related birth defect called microcephaly,babies born with abnormally small heads.

Women were previouslywarned not to travel to South and Central America and the Caribbean.

"I think we need to pay attention," said Dr. Heather Morrison, Chief Public Health Officer on Prince Edward Island. "We certainly have more people from P.E.I. who travel to perhaps Southern Florida compared to some of the other countries that have been effected to date."

Morrison confirmed that no cases of Zika have been reported on P.E.I. As of July 29, Canada has reported 170 confirmed cases of the Zika virus. One was acquired through sexual transmission, one of mother to child transmission and 168 were travel-related.

"At this point in time in Canada it has been primarily travel related cases but we do know sexual transmission can occur as well if there has been someone who has travelled," Morrison.

Morrison said women should avoid becoming pregnant for two months after returning from trips to South and Central America, the Caribbean, and now, Southern Florida. She said men with partners who are pregnant should use condoms for the duration of the pregnancy if they have been travelling to any of the high risk areas.

Morrison said Zika continues to be studied worldwide, and, at this time, it's not believed that the mosquitoes that carry the virus would be able to survive in Canada's climate.

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