Florida Zika Virus Cases Rise To 18

Categories: Florida

Florida Zika Virus Cases Rise To 18

UPDATE: Zika Virus Now In All Major Florida Tourism Counties

TALLAHASSEE – The number of Zika virus cases in Florida has increased to eighteen, according to Florida State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong’s daily Zika virus update on Thursday, February 11, 2016. All eighteen are travel-associated cases (defined as disease believed to be contracted outside of the state).

Florida counties where the Zika viras has been detected:

County	Number of Cases (all travel related)
Broward	2
Hillsborough	3
Lee	3
Miami-Dade	7
Osceola	1
Santa Rosa	1
St. Johns	1
Total	18

The Zika virus is spread by bites from two mosquito species: Aedes aegypti (primarily) and Aedes albopictus, both found in Florida. Although local transmissions have not occurred in the Sunshine State, local transmissions are possible if a Zika infected visitor or returning traveler is bitten by Florida mosquitoes that then spread the virus to other people they bite. In addition to the Zika virus, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can also transmit dengue fever, Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, and Yellow Fever.

According to the CDC, babies born with the Zika virus transmitted from their mothers who contracted the disease while pregnant have developed microcephaly – a disease which causes the babies’ brains and heads to shrink. Maternal-fetal transmission of Zika virus has been documented throughout pregnancy and pregnant women can be infected with Zika virus in any trimester.