42 Zika cases now reported in Florida
Florida health officials have confirmed the first case of sexually transmitted zika virus in the state.
Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong’s office announced Wednesday that two new cases of Zika had been confirmed in Polk County. Officials say one case was travel-related and in the other case, the virus was sexually transmitted from an individual who had been traveling outside the country.
Read more: New case of Zika found in Broward County
Governor commented on the news, saying, “Now that there is a person-to-person transmitted case of the Zika virus in Florida, I am requesting the CDC to schedule another conference call with Florida healthcare workers to ensure they have all the resources and information they need to protect families.”
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“I appreciate the CDC for previously speaking with Florida doctors and healthcare workers on a conference call last month, but it is imperative that the most up-to-date information is available so we can stay ahead of the possible spread of the Zika virus in Florida. We will continue to do all we can to keep families across our state safe.”
Zika is mainly transmitted through bites from the mosquito species that also spreads dengue and chikungunya. But the World Health Organization now says sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously thought.
Health officials urge men who have been to outbreak areas to abstain from unprotected sex.
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A total of 42 cases have now been reported in Florida. Miami-Dade County leads the state with 17 reported cases. All the cases so far have been travel-related, but the virus can be spread by bites from mosquitoes that are common in Florida.
