3rd case of Zika confirmed in Clay County

Nelson pushes for vote on Zika-funding bill

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday six additional travel-related cases of the Zika virus, including an additional case in Clay County.

This was the third case diagnosed in Clay County and brings the total number of cases in Florida to 239 not involving pregnant women. There are 43 cases involving pregnant women. 

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The other cases Tuesday included two in Brevard, one in Broward, one in Miami-Dade, and one in Orange counties. All affected counties are covered by an existing public-health emergency in the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms associated with the Zika virus last seven to 10 days and can include fever or rash.

The CDC confirmed last month that several babies with birth defects caused by the Zika virus have been born in the United States, including one in Florida. It is recommended that women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant postpone travel to areas affected by the Zika virus.

The Health Department also encourages people to wear insect repellent with DEET during the hours of dusk and dawn, and remove standing water because it could attract mosquitoes. For broken fountains or wells, drop chlorine tablets in them to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, took to the Senate floor Tuesday to once again push for passage of a bipartisan Zika-funding bill that would provide $1.1 billion to fight the spread of the virus.

Nelson asked for “unanimous consent” that the Senate take up and pass the same bipartisan Zika-funding bill that the Senate overwhelmingly passed back in May and send it back to the House for consideration as a stand-alone bill.

Under Senate rules, a request for unanimous consent is approved unless one senator objects. After Nelson finished making the request, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, objected.