First Zika Infections by Mosquitoes in U.S. Confirmed

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed the country's first non-travel related Zika virus cases. The four cases involve three men and one woman, in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The department on Friday said it had gathered enough information in its investigation into the four possible non-travel related cases to “conclude that a high likelihood exists that four cases are the result of local transmission.”

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Virginia saw seven new cases of the Zika virus reported this week, according to new statistics released Thursday by the Virginia Department of Health. All Virginia cases have been due to travel to countries outside the U.S.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization. The CDC 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.

Zika Resources:

• Virginia Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control

Reporting by Sherri Lonon and Mary Ann Barton.

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