Zika virus in Florida: 'No one can give you a straight answer,' says pregnant Canadian

More than four million Canadians head to Florida every year, and when cooler weather supports plans to travelsouth, they're looking for ways to protect themselves.

The trouble at least for peace of mind is thatdoctors are relying solely on health agencies as their source of information to reassure travellers looking for answers.

Mosquitoes have now infected 50 people with Zika virus in Miami, wheresome doctorsare having a difficulttime giving advice on how people can protect themselves.

• Entire U.S. Gulf Coast could see Zika virus
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• CDC extends travel advisory to Florida's Miami Beach

Johanna Mikkolaand her husbandmoved from Toronto to Miami to start a businessjust over two years ago.She's now 35 weeks into her pregnancy and living in Fort Lauderdale, but earlier this summer they were livingin the outbreak zone.

Despite signs all is going well with thepregnancy, she's still worried.

"I'm not even living in Miami any more. I barely go outside. I've done all my Zika checks. Baby is great.The biggest thing is, I don't know if we are being overly cautious, or not cautious enough," she told CBC.

"And that uncertainty? From the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)to doctors, no one can give you a straight answer," she said.

Dr. Aaron Elkin, an obstetrician and gynecologist, has been delivering babies in south Florida for over 30 years. He says there is little research on Zika he can pass along for reassurance, and has few answers for his patients.

'They are fearful'

"They are fearful, because when they're learning about the devastating effect and by the way, I think we're learning with the patients now it's almost like the recommendations that we are writing now are in pencil, so we have to change them in a month," Elkin said.

The virus has been in the Americas since 2005.The first cases of people acquiring Zika from mosquitos were reported in an area just north of downtown Miami in July.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising women who are pregnantor thinking of getting pregnant to avoid travel to places where the Zikavirus has been confirmed.

• Zikainfection found in newborns withoutmicrocephaly
• Zikaremains global emergency, virus still spreading, says WHO
• Miami Beach mosquitoes test positive forZikavirus

If people still needto travel to those destinations, the agency says they should take theseprecautions:

• Sleep under a mosquito net.
• Use an insect repellent.
• Wear protective clothing.
• Look for safe accommodations, with screened doors and windows.

There is evidence that Zika infection in pregnancy can cause a range ofbirth defects, such as brain abnormalities, and that the damaging effects ofZika infection in newborns might not be evident until the infant develops.

Scientists are working on 18 different vaccines. Only one has made it to testing phase, and they don't expect it to be readybefore the year 2018.

In the meantime, there ishope cooler temperatures mayhelp shrink the mosquitopopulations.