Florida Zika Cases Edge Near 900; 1 New Case Reported in Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The Florida Department of Health confirmed four new Zika virus cases Friday, including a travel-related infection in Hillsborough County. The state’s tally of confirmed cases now stands at 878.

While Hillsborough County’s new case is travel-related the same cannot be said for the other three. The locally acquired cases originated in Miami-Dade County, FDOH reported. All three cases are related to the ongoing investigation in Miami Beach.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that presents with a fever, joint pain and rash. The illness typically goes away within a week, but some cases may require hospitalization. Zika may also be spread through sexual contact, health officials say.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.

As of Friday, the state’s tally of confirmed infections is as follows:

• Travel related – 683
• Non-travel related – 95
• Infections involving pregnant women – 90
• Out of state cases – 10

In the Tampa Bay area, travel-related cases have been confirmed as follows, according to the state’s website:

• Hernando County – 4
• Hillsborough County – 23
• Manatee County – 4
• Pasco County – 8
• Pinellas County – 16
• Polk County – 23
• Sarasota County – 3

Pinellas County has also had one non-travel related case confirmed by DOH.

Door-to-door outreach and targeted testing related to non-travel related cases remains ongoing in Pinellas, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, DOH added.

To help residents resolve questions about the virus and its spread, the state of Florida has set up a Zika Virus Information Hotline at 1-855-622-6735. More information may also be found on the DOH website.

Image via Shutterstock