by James McClister

On August 1, because of a small but alarming outbreak of the Zika virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel warning for Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. Today the CDC lifted its warning.

The easing of precautions comes as no new cases of locally-transmitted Zika have been reported in Wynwood for more than a month. Also, the number of mosquitoes found in traps has gone down.

“We understand that this has been a difficult time for Wynwood residents and visitors,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “We’ve reached this point because of the tremendous progress with mosquito control in the affected area, including the combination of aerial application of the larvicide Bti and the adulticide Naled, and rigorous investigation of possible Zika infections by Florida health officials.”

But while the CDC is optimistic in its decision to lift Wynwood’s travel warning, the agency urges that residents and travelers remain cautious.

“Still, we encourage people not to let down their guard. We could see additional cases,” Frieden said. “People living in or visiting Miami-Dade County, particularly pregnant women, are encouraged to continue to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and to follow guidelines for preventing sexual transmission.”

The CDC’s revised travel guidelines can be found here.