Pinellas County Zika Virus Count Climbs

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The total number of confirmed Zika virus cases in Pinellas County climbed to four Friday, bringing the Tampa Bay area total to 11.

The total statewide number climbed to 152. That number includes 36 pregnant women, who are now being counted in the mix because of new guidance released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that indicates all pregnant women with evidence of Zika virus should be counted “regardless of symptoms,” the Florida Department of Health noted in Friday’s daily Zika virus report.

“Prior to today, CDC guidance was only to report cases of Zika if the pregnant woman was symptomatic,” the state said.

Since January, the Florida department of health has monitored 36 pregnant women. Only nine of those women met the CDC’s previous guidance, FDOH noted in Friday’s report. The counties in which pregnant women affected by Zika virus reside are not released by FDOH.

See Also:

• 157 Pregnant Women In U.S. Show Evidence Of Zika Virus: CDC

All of the state’s Zika virus cases remain travel related, according to the department. Other Tampa Bay area counties with confirmed cases include Hillsborough with three, Polk with three and Pasco with one.

As of Friday, the state reported that four of the patients confirmed to have Zika virus in the state are still displaying symptoms. All of the state’s cases are travel-related, which means those affected contracted the virus outside of the country.

Back in February, Gov. Rick Scott instructed the state's surgeon general to issue a Declaration of Public Health Emergency for the counties where residents have tested positive for travel-associated cases of Zika virus. To date, 19 counties have been included in that order. Other areas where Zika has been confirmed include Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Collier, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Santa Rose, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the 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 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.

Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes. One of the confirmed cases in Polk County originated through sexual contact, the state of Florida reported. The patient in the case contracted the virus while traveling outside of the country.

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

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. The hotline has fielded more than 1,785 calls since it was launched Feb. 12, the state reported.

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