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3 pregnant women test positive for Zika in Florida

A health worker gives foot massage to 3-month-old Pedro Henrique in a hospital in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, during an examination that's part of a study to determine if the Zika virus is causing babies to be born with a birth defect affecting the brain.
A health worker gives foot massage to 3-month-old Pedro Henrique in a hospital in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, during an examination that's part of a study to determine if the Zika virus is causing babies to be born with a birth defect affecting the brain. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

MIAMI – Health officials say three pregnant women have tested positive for the Zika virus in Florida.

Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong announced the cases Wednesday in his daily Zika update. A news release says all three cases are believed to be travel-related. Officials weren’t identifying the counties where the pregnant women were diagnosed.

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READ MORE: Zika virus: What doctors know about how it potentially spreads

Zika is rapidly spreading through Latin America, and scientists are studying the virus’ possible connection to babies born with unusually small heads. The birth defect called microcephaly can signal underlying brain damage.

A total of 32 cases have now been reported in Florida. Miami-Dade County leads the state with 11 reported cases. All the cases so far have been travel-related, but the virus can be spread by bites from mosquitoes that are common in Florida.

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