Tampa Bay Zika Virus Case Count Climbs

TAMPA BAY, FL — Just one day after the Florida Department of Health confirmed Pinellas County’s first locally transmitted Zika virus case, nine new travel-related incidents were reported across the Tampa Bay area. As of Wednesday, there were 636 cases confirmed statewide.

FDOH announced 15 new travel-related cases Wednesday. Those cases include three patients each in Pinellas, Polk and Orange counties, two in Broward and one each in Manatee, Pasco and Volusia counties. A new locally acquired case was also reported involving a resident of Palm Beach County.

Florida’s total case count includes 523 people who have tested positive for travel-related infections, 43 non-travel related infections and 70 infections involving pregnant women, according to FDOH.

See also: Locally Transmitted Zika Virus in Pinellas Confirmed

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.

Gov. Rick Scott announced Pinellas County’s first locally transmitted case Tuesday. State officials do not believe that active transmission of the virus is taking place in Pinellas County. Even so, they've begun "door-to-door outreach and sampling in Pinellas County," a statement from the governor's office said.

“One case does not mean active transmission is taking place,” FDOH spokeswoman Sarah Revell explained. “The department conducts a thorough investigation by sampling close contacts and community members around each case to determine if additional people are infected. If the department finds evidence that active transmission is occurring in an area, we will notify the media and the public.”

FDOH still believes active transmission is only taking place in the Wynwood and Miami Beach areas of Miami-Dade County, the agency has said.

As of Wednesday, the number of travel-related Zika virus cases confirmed in Tampa Bay area counties were as follows:

• Hillsborough County – 15
• Manatee County – 3
• Pasco County – 7
• Pinellas County – 13
• Polk County – 19
• Sarasota County – 1
• Hernando County – 4

To help residents resolve questions about the virus and its spread, the state 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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