Florida Zika Virus Cases Near 160

The Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee says it has confirmed a total of 158 Zika virus cases across the state. On Wednesday, the agency reported four new cases to arrive at that total.

All Zika virus cases in the state are travel-related, the department said. The new reports include two people from Miami-Dade County, one from Lee County and one from Orange County. All told, 36 pregnant women have also been confirmed to have been exposed to Zika. Of the 158 people who have contracted the virus, five were still exhibiting symptoms on Wednesday.

In the Tampa Bay area, a number of counties have witnessed confirmed cases. Pinellas County has had four confirmed cases so far, followed by Polk and Hillsborough with three each. One case has also been confirmed in Pasco County.

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 1,839 calls since it was launched Feb. 12, the state reported.

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