Zika Virus Detected In Another Florida County

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The state of Florida now has 29 confirmed cases of the Zika virus with another county officially added to the state’s Declaration of Public Health Emergency as of Tuesday.

The latest travel-related case was confirmed in Seminole County, bringing the total of cases statewide up to 29. Hillsborough County remains the only county in the Tampa Bay area with reported cases. To date, three Hillsborough residents have been affected by the virus.

The latest number reported by State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong Tuesday represents a rise of one case in one day. All of the state’s cases remain travel-related, Armstrong noted. That means residents did not contract the virus within the Sunshine State.

To help residents resolve questions about the virus and its spread, the state has set up a Zika Virus Information Hotline. That number is 1-855-622-6735. As of Friday, the hotline had fielded 648 calls since it was launched Feb. 12, the state reported.

See Also:

• Zika Virus Information Floridians Need To Know
• Ebola Funds May Help Combat Zika

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. According to the state, only about one out of five people infected with Zika are symptomatic. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.

It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Several reports have linked Zika in mothers with microcephaly in infants. That condition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, is a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes.

While Florida’s cases to date have originated through foreign travel, the state urges residents and visitors to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

Image via Shutterstock

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