An official from the National Institutes of Health says all Gulf Coast states, including Florida are the most vulnerable to an outbreak of the Zika virus.
Speaking on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Dr. Anthony Fauci said Louisiana especially is susceptible to an outbreak due to the widespread flooding.
"I would not be surprised if we see cases in Texas and Louisiana, particularly now where you have the situation with flooding in Louisiana," said Fauci.
"There are going to be a lot of problems getting rid of standing water."
Fauci also believes there is no quick fix.
"With our experience with other similar viruses like dengue, this is something that could hang around for a year or two," Fauci said.
"Hopefully, we get to a point to where we could suppress it so that we won’t have any risk of it."
Locally transmitted Zika cases have been found in the Wynwood and Miami Beach areas of Miami-Dade County, the latter in particular causing fears over a probable tourism slowdown.
The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Tom Freidem acknowledges the greater difficulty in controlling the spread of Zika in Miami Beach due to the number of residents and visitors.
Unlike nearby Wynwood, the area cannot be sprayed from the air because of the high rise buildings and coastal winds.
Still, Mayor Philip Levine says the fight against Zijka is running smoothly and he doesn’t foresee a long term impact on the city’s booming tourism industry.
