New Zika Case Confirmed in Sarasota County

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Florida’s Zika virus count rose to 1,044 Wednesday with the announcement of four new cases. One of those cases involves a Sarasota County resident.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the Sarasota case is travel-related. That means the person sickened contracted Zika while traveling. A travel-related case involving a pregnant woman was also reported Wednesday, Oct. 19, along with two non-travel related cases in Miami-Dade County.

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 Wednesday, Oct. 19, the state’s tally of confirmed infections is as follows:

• Travel related – 745
• Non-travel related – 165
• Infections involving pregnant women – 110
• Out of state cases – 19
• Undetermined – 5

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

• Hernando County – 4
• Hillsborough County – 26
• Manatee County – 4
• Pasco County – 8
• Pinellas County – 19
• Polk County – 28
• Sarasota County – 5

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

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.

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