Florida Health Officials Confirm 10 New Cases Of Zika Infection In Florida, Total Number Of Cases In The US Balloons To 1,000

Health officials in Florida has recently confirmed 10 new cases of Zika infection, the largest number of infection found in one day, and an alarming sign that the United States is failing at responding to the crisis.

According to pbs.org, the 10 new cases were considered the largest one-day total which was announced in the United States since the disease started to spread through Latin America last year. There have already been about 1,000 people infected with the virus who are currently living on U.S. soil, and 246 of those cases have been discovered in Florida this year.

In connection with the findings, the Florida Department of Health said it would continue to give an update to the public about new cases, especially those who were made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Guardian reported that the US has not recorded any cases of the virus being transmitted by mosquito in the 50 states, even though these mosquitos are spreading the virus in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. People got infected with the virus on the mainland through sexual transmission and one case was found to have contracted the infection in a laboratory.  

"To tell people not to have sex until we get back to you is not a very satisfying recommendation," Anne Schuchat, a CDC deputy director said. "We would like to have some more understanding of the sexual risk."

Zika usually does not show any symptoms in 80 percent of healthy adults. It shows mild symptoms such as fever, joint pain, red eyes and rash, lasting a week to 10 days in the remaining 20 percent.  However, it can directly affect a growing fetus, with a confirmed connection to microcephaly and an apparent link to eye problems, hearing loss and other brain disorders.

Health officials are now more concerned about people living in poor, urban areas near the gulf coast, where they are most likely to have broken screens on their window, not enough air conditioning and a dirty surrounding, health officials told the Associated Press.

While the first confirmed case of the Zika virus dates back to 1947, the virus began spreading throughout Latin America in 2015, topic-trend.xyz  said.

In early 2016, the World Health Organization declared the virus a public health threat, making it "likely to continue spreading to new areas." There is currently no vaccine or medicine to treat Zika, the CDC said.