Zika Virus Florida – Travel Safety Information

The Florida Department of Health has identified a one-half-square-mile area of Wynwood and a 1.5-square-mile section in Miami Beach where non-travel related cases of Zika are occurring. There is also one additional case associated with Pinellas County that is currently under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered guidance for pregnant women and their partners considering travel to the two specific areas in South Florida.

According to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, “Florida has a proven track record of success when it comes to managing similar mosquito-borne viruses.  We will continue to keep our residents and visitors safe, utilizing constant surveillance and aggressive strategies, such as increased mosquito spraying, that have allowed our state to fight similar viruses.”

According to Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip, “As with most emerging health threats, we learn more about the Zika virus each day but we recognize that the unknown can be scary, especially for pregnant women. We’re committed to sharing as much as we can as soon as we can.”

Orlando Theme Parks Providing Repellent

Disney, Universal and SeaWorld are all providing free mosquito repellent.

No mosquito-transmitted case of the Zika virus has been found in central Florida. But theme park officials say they’re offering the repellent as a precaution and to ease the fears of visitors.

Disney offer free pump bottles and towelettes at its theme parks, Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports. Hotel rooms will have aerosol bug spray. Signs at the resort will inform visitors that repellent and protective clothing can help them avoid mosquito bites.

At Universal, visitors can obtain repellent at guest services locations.

SeaWorld will provide it at its three Orlando theme and water parks, along with Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa.

The companies said they were providing the repellent “out of an abundance of caution.” They stressed they already have extensive mosquito prevention and monitoring programs.

Disney said in a statement:

“In an abundance of caution, we are accelerating preventative efforts throughout our property, including providing complimentary insect repellent to our guests along with helpful guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have an extensive mosquito-prevention and monitoring program in place, and we continue to work closely with local, state and federal experts on this topic.”

Visit Orlando Chief Executive Officer George Aguel said in an email:

“Orlando is the gold standard of mosquito control efforts. Both our government leaders and our tourism businesses are very serious about mosquito control.” He called the theme parks’ decision to provide repellent “just one more example of such measures.”

Local efforts include grounds maintenance and ongoing elimination of standing water to prevent breeding, Aguel said.

Zika Resources

Zika Virus Florida: Information Hotline: 855-622-6735

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Updates on the Zika Virus

Florida Department of Health Zika Virus Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Zika Virus Information

CDC Advice for People Traveling to South Florida

Many of the websites concerned will break down affected areas by County. If you are visiting Orlando, the four main counties in and around the theme park areas are:

  • Orange County
  • Osceola County
  • Polk County
  • Lake County

Protection against Mosquitoes Advisory from Florida Health

  • Use insect repellant with any of the following active ingredients
    • DEET (up to 30%)
    • Picaridin
    • Oil of lemon eucalyptus
    • Para-menthane diol
    • IR3535
    • Always follow product label instructions and make sure repellent is age-appropriate.
    • It is safe for pregnant or nursing women to use EPA-approved repellants if applied according to package label instructions.
    • Apply repellent on bare skin or clothing, not under clothing.
  • Cover skin with long-sleeved shirts and long pants
    • Apply a permethrin repellent directly to clothing or purchase pre-treated clothing. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and do not apply directly to the skin.
  •  Keep mosquitoes out of hotel rooms
    • Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.*
    • Sleep under a mosquito bed net when outside or in a room that is not screened.

All our Orlando Vacation Homes are screened:

* If you are staying in one of our Orlando vacation homes, please be aware that all windows are fully screened.

  • The pool and backyard in Serendipity at Indian Creek is fully screened with a fine mesh.
  • The porch and front door at Sleepy Hollow has screens and the sun deck is fulled caged with a fine mesh.
  • The Florida Room, front door and all windows at Serenity Lake House are all fully screened.
  • We currently provide repellent in all our homes.