Twenty-nine of those cases — all in Florida — were locally acquired. CDC officials say mosquitoes in two areas of Florida are spreading Zika: the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami and also Miami Beach. However, Florida officials have said locally acquired Zika cases have also been reported in Palm Beach County and Pinellas County.
Additionally, 22 cases were sexually acquired, and seven developed Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is a condition of the nervous system in which a person’s immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and possibly paralysis, according to the CDC.
In the U.S. territories, there have been 8,968 locally acquired Zika cases and 43 travel-associated cases, for a total of 9,011.
Zika virus is a major concern for pregnant women, as it has been linked to birth defects like microcephaly. As of Aug. 18, 584 pregnant women in the U.S. states and Washington D.C., and 812 pregnant women in the U.S. territories have lab evidence of Zika virus infection.
Further, 16 babies in the U.S. have been born with Zika-related birth defects, and there have been five pregnancy losses with birth defects linked to Zika.
More articles on Zika virus:
1st Zika virus infection case confirmed in Hong Kong; Patient recently traveled to Caribbean
Planned Parenthood joins Miami Zika education outreach efforts
9 things providers should do to prepare for Zika
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