In Florida, 3 pregnant women test positive for Zika

Three pregnant women in Florida have tested positive for the Zika virus, the state's Department of Health announced Wednesday.

All three women, whose names and locations were not released, traveled outside of the United States. The virus — primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito biting an infected person and spreading it — has been linked to Guillain-Barre, a rare syndrome that causes the immune system to attack nerves, and microcephaly, a neurological disorder that causes abnormally small heads and development issues in babies. In Brazil, there have been at least 508 confirmed cases of microcephaly in newborns since October, up from 146 cases in 2014, and at least 17 cases are linked to the Zika virus, CNN reports. At least 27 babies have died from microcephaly, including five associated with Zika.

Zika symptoms include rash, fever, red eyes, and joint pain, but in 80 percent of cases there are no symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says pregnant women should not travel to areas where Zika is active, and OB/GYNs should conduct maternal testing and ultrasounds for women who have traveled to countries affected by Zika.

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