Florida Zika Virus Cases Climb To 60

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The number of confirmed Zika virus cases in Florida has climbed to 60.

State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong released the new total Monday in his daily Zika Virus Update. Monday’s new confirmed case is in Miami-Dade County. That county accounts for nearly half of all the state’s confirmed cases so far with 28 total confirmed. The only Tampa Bay area counties to have confirmed cases as of Monday are Hillsborough with three and Polk with two. All of the state’s cases remain travel related, Armstrong noted.

As of Monday, Armstrong said only four of the state’s confirmed patients are still exhibiting symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates Zika virus symptoms last between seven and 10 days.

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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 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. 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 1,032 calls since it was launched Feb. 12, the state reported.

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