Health officials in South Florida confirm 3 pregnant women have tested positive for the Zika virus. The total number of cases in the state of Florida stands at 32.
All of the infected patients contracted the mosquito-borne infection while traveling out of the country.
The virus is especially harmful to pregnant women. Zika causes birth defects in babies who are born with unusually small heads (microcephaly). Over 4,000 babies in Brazil were born with microcephaly.
So far, 27 infants have died from complications of Zika.
80% of those infected do not experience symptoms. But in 20% of the cases the symptoms include whole body rash, fever, headache, fatigue, chills, sweating and joint pain.
The virus is usually transmitted through mosquito bites but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a case of sexual transmission.
