State health officials on Tuesday reported the first case of sexually transmitted Zika in Florida for 2017 in Pinellas County.
The newly identified infection is classified as travel-associated as the infected individual's partner recently traveled to Cuba and experienced symptoms indicative of Zika infection, which can include fever, rash and conjunctivitis.
"There is no evidence of ongoing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes in any area of Florida," said the Florida Department of Health. "It is important to remember Zika can also be transmitted sexually and to take precautions if you or your partner traveled to an area where Zika is active. If the department identifies an area where ongoing transmission of Zika is taking place, we will notify the public immediately."
The new case brings the total number of possible Zika infections in Florida for 2017 to 118, with 90 travel-associated cases, six locally acquired cases and 22 undetermined cases. The locally acquired cases and the undetermined cases involved Zika exposure in 2016 and Zika testing in 2017. Florida health officials tallied 1,456 Zika infections for 2016.
On July 26, Texas health officials reported what is likely the first locally acquired Zika case in the state this year.
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