The patient likely acquired Zika last year in Miami-Dade after “multiple exposures” to areas where mosquitoes were spreading the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In addition to the locally acquired case, Florida reported at least four new travel-related Zika infections, raising the total number of cases so far this year in the state to 29. Of these, 13 infections occurred in pregnant women and the source of two cases is undetermined after a health department investigation.
Zika is spread mainly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These mosquitoes bite during the day and night.
Many people infected with the Zika virus will have few if any recognizable symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are:
- Fever
- Rash
- Joint pain
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
Other symptoms may include:
- Muscle pain
- Headache
Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other neurological disorders.
There is currently no vaccine or medication available to treat Zika.
The frequency of Zika infections across the U.S. has declined over the winter months, but health officials expect the virus to resurface as the temperature warms and rain increases.
Source: Sun Sentinel