Four Floridians investigated for local Zika infections

Health officials in Florida are investigating two more cases of Zika virus infection that do not appear linked to travel. That brings the total number of possible local Zika infections in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to four. U.S. officials have long warned that the virus would eventually spread to the continental U.S. and be likely to first appear in Southern or Gulf Coast states where mosquito populations are larger. So far, health officials have counted 1,657 travel-related cases of the disease. But because symptoms are generally mild and developed by only 1 in 5 of those infected, it’s likely the infection rate is much higher. Many people may not realize they’re infected. The virus is not deadly but it’s been linked to severe birth defects and can trigger a paralytic syndrome in some people recovering from the initial infection. Although health officials are not recommending curtailed travel to Florida, the Food and Drug Administration has asked the state’s blood banks to stop taking donations until they can be screened for the virus.