Florida Zika Virus Cases Climb to 662

TAMPA BAY, FL — The Zika virus infection count in the state of Florida climbed to 662 on Friday with the announcement of 15 new travel-related cases. Five of those cases involve residents of the Tampa Bay area.

According to the Florida Department of Health, three new travel-related cases were confirmed in Pinellas County. Hillsborough and Sarasota counties also had one new confirmed travel-related case each. Other new cases included three in Broward County, one each in Collier and Orange and five cases involving pregnant women.

No new non-travel related cases were confirmed by the Florida Department of Health on Friday. The breakdown of cases statewide is as follows:

• Travel related infections – 545
• Non-travel related infections – 42
• Infections involving pregnant women – 75

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.

See also: Zika Virus: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Requested for Pinellas

The CDC recommends women who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant postpone travel to areas where there is widespread Zika infection.

Friday’s announcement of three new travel-related cases in Pinellas County comes on the heels of that county’s first non-travel related case. Gov. Rick Scott announced the infection on Tuesday. Pinellas lawmakers on Friday asked the federal government for permission to deploy genetically altered mosquitoes to combat the virus’ spread should the need arise. The Pinellas case is the only non-travel related case in the Tampa Bay area to date. At this time, the state does not believe local transmission of the virus is occurring in Pinellas County. An investigation is under way to make certain.

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 FDOH website.

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