Lee Memorial Health System is preparing for any future Zika virus cases. The Florida Department of Healthsaid on Tuesday there are 44 cases in the state. Three of those cases are in Lee County and all are travel-related.
Lee Memorial is working to identify any possible local Zika cases.
Lee Memorial’s System Director of Epidemiology Stephen Streed said most people with Zika don’t show symptoms.
To identify cases, they will ask patients about recent travel to any countries that might be involved in the outbreak.
“When they confirm that they’ve had recent travel, we then contact the Lee County Health Department who as an algorithm for identifying who they would like to test. If they meet the criteria, we collect and submit the samples to the health department who then sends it to the state authority,” he said.
Symptoms for Zika include joint pain and fever. Streed said there’s no treatment for the virus.
Zika is believed to be linked to a condition that causes birth defects in pregnant women. Streed said in those cases there would be counseling between the woman and her provider.
Streed said mosquito control will determine how big of a threat Zika will be in Florida. Lee County Mosquito control is one of the largest programs in the country.
