Health & Fitness

UPDATED: 3 Confirmed Cases of Zika Virus in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Public Health spokesperson Scott Zoback could not confirm which communities the individuals are from.

Originally posted at 5:50 p.m. Updated with national numbers of Zika virus cases.

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FRAMINGHAM, MA - The number of confirmed Zika virus cases in Massachusetts has increased to three, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health and the Center For Disease Control.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health spokesperson Scott Zoback could not confirm which communities the individuals are from, but all travelled outside Massachusetts, according to the CDC.

The first Massachusetts case was confirmed in January. The man, whose name and community have not been identified, also travelled outside the continental United States.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus (in the same family as yellow fever, dengue and West Nile viruses), previously found largely in Africa and Southeast Asia.

The CDC, as of March 9, has 193 confirmed cases reported in the "continental United States," with the most cases reported in Florida - 49.

The biggest risk of the virus is to pregnant women and their unborn children.

Several reports have linked Zika in mothers with Microcephaly in infants, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says. Microcephaly is a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

People infected with Zika can expect fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes for a couple of days or up to a week, and hospitalization is rare, according to the CDC

In early January, the U.S. Department of Public Health warned of dramatic increases in cases in the United States.

At least 14 countries or territories in the Americas, including Puerto Rico, have been identified as local transmission locations. You can view these locations here.

The Town of Framingham issued an alert in mid-February, advising residents about travelling to Brazil and other countries, with high numbers of Zika cases. Brazil is one of those countries, and Framingham is home to one of the largest Brazilian populations on the East Coast.

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