The Florida Department of Health announced Wednesday that there were 15 new travel-related cases in the state, including two in Broward County.
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The Florida Department of Health officials said that they believe transmission of the Zika virus is not active in Pinellas County as there has been just one case reported from the region.
The mother developed symptoms of Zika illness – rash, fever, headache, swollen joints – in week 26 of her pregnancy.
Pregnant woman who want to get a free Zika test or prevention kit should contact the Department of Health in Pinellas County. In these situations, the virus can cause microcephaly (small head syndrome), brain damage and other birth defects.
“That will unfortunately mean more places, more containers that could be holding water, so we plead with our residents to eliminate after the rains, eliminate any standing water in their yards”, Francisco Calderon, with Miami-Dade Waste Management, said.
Asian tiger mosquitos – Aedes albopictus, one of two species known to carry Zika – are found most frequently in the southwest of the state.
Scott said, “Since Congress made a decision to go on a seven-week vacation, the state of Florida has been hard at work combatting the Zika virus”.
The person has not been identified, nor have officials said where the person resides in Defiance County.
The disease can be transmitted through being bit by a mosquito carrying the virus, or through blood transfusions and sexual contact.
“To date we have a total of 43 cases that are non-travel related in the entire state”, Scott said. It continues to be important to remain informed on Zika prevention tips and guidelines.
Last month, scientists discovered another much more common species of mosquito was able to transmit the Zika virus to humans.
Zika cases have been confirmed in both Brazos and Walker County.
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The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil past year and has since spread across the Americas. So far, the only confirmed cases of mosquito-borne transmission in the USA are in Miami, according to the website for Centers for Disease Control. If you are pregnant and must travel or if you live or work in the impacted area, protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent, long clothing and limiting your time outdoors.
