Tallahassee, Fla. – Three pregnant women in Florida have contracted the Zika virus, Florida Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong said Wednesday in his daily report.
All Florida cases were contracted while the patient was traveling to another country, Armstrong said.
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According to Armstrong, only three patients in the state are still showing symptoms associated with the Zika virus.
Although the virus has not been contracted locally, Armstrong urges Floridians to drain standing water weekly, no matter how seemingly small. He said just a couple of drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
People are also urged to wear bug repellent when they are outdoors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zika virus typically causes a mild rash, fever and joint pain. Only one in five people infected with the virus are symptomatic.
CDC researchers are also investigating a possible link between the virus and harm to unborn babies during pregnancy after the Ministry of Health of Brazil reported an increase in the number of newborns with microcephaly in areas experiencing Zika virus outbreaks.
Pregnant women infected with the Zika virus are urged to get additional ultrasounds.
Below is a list of the counties with people who have contracted the Zika virus. Armstrong is not releasing the counties in which each pregnant woman lives in out of respect for their privacy.
Alachua County - 1 case
Brevard County - 1 case
Broward County - 4 cases
Hillsborough County - 3 cases
Lee County - 3 cases
Miami-Dade County - 11 cases
Orange County – 2 case
Osceola County - 1 case
Santa Rosa County - 1 case
St. Johns County - 1 case
*Cases involving pregnant women - 3
Total number of Floridians infected - 32
For more information about the Zika virus, call the Florida Zika virus information hotline at 1-855-622-6735.
