Two new Zika cases, including one in Orange County, were confirmed Friday by Dr. John Armstrong, Florida's surgeon general.
The other new case is in Miami-Dade County, officials said. As a result of the new case, Armstrong's declaration of public health emergency has been extended to include Orange County.
There are now three cases in Central Florida. The other two are in Osceola County and Brevard County.
- RELATED LINKS
| COUNTY |
Number of Cases (all travel-related) |
| Alachua | 1 |
| Brevard |
1 |
| Broward |
4 |
| Hillsborough |
3 |
| Lee |
3 |
| Miami-Dade |
10 |
| Orange |
1 |
| Osceola |
1 |
| Santa Rosa |
1 |
| St. Johns |
1 |
| Total |
26 |
Florida’s 26 cases are travel related, but it hasn’t stopped people from traveling. On Friday evening, a line of people waited for their tickets to Brazil at the Orlando International Airport.
“I have an aunt who is pregnant right now and she is very worried about the epidemic,” said Ryan Pegas, lives in Orlando.
Pegas was born in America but still has family and friends in Brazil. Pegas was waiting at the airport with a friend who was going back to the country.
“She stays indoors, she doesn’t go to other cities because she is frightened. In other cities it is more widespread than others,” said Pegas.
Researchers are concerned about the Zika virus risk to pregnant women. Researchers have noticed a spike between the virus and babies born with microcephaly. However, they are still studying whether there is a correlation.
For now the CDC is urging pregnant woman and women and men who are trying to have a baby to avoid traveling to any area where Zika is spreading.
In Florida, none of the cases involve pregnant women. However, medical experts are urging people to protect themselves from mosquitos.
“You have to limit the exposures to mosquitos and the way you do that is to eliminate all standing bodies of water,” said Federico Laham, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Laham also said people should wear insect repellant and long-sleeved clothing.
Symptoms of the virus include a fever, rash, joint pain, headaches and muscle pain.