Broward Lawmakers To Get Briefed On Zika

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/NSF) - As another sign of growing concerns about the Zika virus, the Broward County legislative delegation will meet next week to receive a presentation from state Surgeon General Celeste Philip about the disease.

The delegation has scheduled a meeting June 16th in Fort Lauderdale about the mosquito-borne virus, which can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women.

As of Monday, Florida totaled 128 Zika cases that don't involve pregnant women. Also the state has monitored 38 cases in which pregnant women showed symptoms of Zika or met a definition of having the virus.

All of the Florida cases were contracted by people who traveled elsewhere, but state health officials worry that the disease could spread in Florida as mosquitoes thrive in the warmer summer months.

Of the 128 cases involving people who were not pregnant, more than half were in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, according to the Department of Health. Miami-Dade had 51 of the cases, while Broward had 19. The next-closest county was Orange, with 10 cases.

The Department of Health did not release the counties of the cases involving pregnant women.

Zika, which emerged last year as a major threat in Brazil and other areas of South America, can cause severe birth defects in children.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.