Florida officials documented 10 new cases of the Zika virus Friday, the highest number reported in a single day. The state’s total is now approaching 250.
According to the Department of Health, the new cases are affecting counties in South and Central Florida. The agency is also reporting the first documented case in Charlotte County. For many, the symptoms of Zika are mild, even non-existent, leading some public health professionals to believe many cases go un-reported. The virus poses a particular threat to pregnant women, who can experience serious birth complications, like microcephaly, a condition causing babies to be born with abnormally small heads. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, and can also be sexually transmitted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pregnant women and their partners should practice safe sex to avoid contracting the virus.
