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Third non-travel related Zika case in Palm Beach County

Posted at 6:13 PM, Aug 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-01 04:07:50-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Officials with the Florida Department of Health say there is one new non- travel related Zika case Wednesday in Palm Beach County. 

Health officials say they are still investigating where the person may have been infected with the virus.

RELATED: More Zika coverage

The individual identified Wednesday experienced symptoms during the same time frame as the Palm Beach County case announced last week. The department has found no evidence of active transmission in the area.

Three cases of Zika have been confirmed in Palm Beach County since early August.

The health department said the first case of Zika was likely acquired in Miami-Dade County.

The woman behind the second locally-acquired case told WPTV she was infected in Lake Worth.

Residents there are stepping up their prevention efforts as they wait to hear where the third case came from.

“Ever since then I’ve been wearing protection. I try not to come out of the house, like right now I'm ready to get back in the house. I don’t want any mosquitos biting me at all,” said Lake Worth resident, Ace Sanders.

Threre were 13 other new travel related cases announced were Wednesday, five in Miami-Dade, two in Osceola, one in Broward, one in Lee, one in Orange, one in Seminole and two involving pregnant women. 

According to CDC guidance, providers should consider testing all pregnant women with a history of travel to a Zika affected area for the virus.

It is also recommended that all pregnant women who reside in or travel frequently to the area where active transmission is likely occurring be tested for Zika in the first and second trimester.

Pregnant women in the identified area can contact their medical provider or their local county health department to be tested and receive a Zika prevention kit, officials say.

The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.