Florida Zika Virus Cases Up By 2 In 1 Day

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Another county has officially been included in a declaration of public health emergency issued by the state of Florida courtesy of the Zika virus.

With one confirmed travel-related case of Zika virus, Orange County has joined others, including Hillsborough, covered by the health emergency declaration. The total number of confirmed travel-related cases in the state of Florida as of Friday is now 26, according to State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong. One new case was also reported in Miami-Dade County on Friday, bringing the total there to 10. Hillsborough County has had three confirmed cases so far. All of the state’s cases are travel-related, meaning residents did not contract the virus within Florida.

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 533 calls since it was launched last week, the state reported.

See Also:

• Zika Virus Information Floridians Need To Know
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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 havelinked 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.

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