Zika Virus: Florida Theme Parks Offer Guests Free Bug Repellent

Florida's major theme parks are now offering free bug repellent to visitors as concerns about mosquito-transmitted Zika virus mount.

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando on Sunday began offering the mosquito spray and lotion free of charge at their parks.

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.

The Department of Health is investigating mosquito-transmitted Zika cases in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties in South Florida, as well as in Pinellas County in the Tampa area.

Zika causes a mild illness in most people but can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy.

On Friday, Miami Beach city officials took part in a roundtable discussion with Governor Rick Scott and others, discussing the strategy at both the state and local level to fight the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

Also Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it wants all U.S. blood banks to start screening for Zika virus, a major expansion intended to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne disease.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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