LEON COUNTY, FL (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Health has confirmed the first case of the Zika virus in Leon County.
Health officials say this case is travel-related, meaning the infected person traveled from a Zika-affected area recently.
The test was confirmed Friday through lab results, according to the department.
The department is reminding residents to stay clear of areas with standing water and to remove standing water from their homes and yards.
According Leon County government officials, the species known to carry the Zika virus is not common in the North Florida area. In abundance of caution, the county will be setting monitoring traps to confirm the species is not in the immediate area.
County leaders also say the Leon County Mosquito COntrol and the Leon County Health Department are taking immediate action to canvass the area of concern "to reduce the breeding of the mosquito population."
The Florida Department of Health says every county health department is offering free Zika testing for all pregnant women. Zika can cause severe defects for unborn babies, including microcephaly.
The department says they will release more information regarding the case on Monday. Due to privacy concerns, officials cannot provide any information on the specific location of the infected person, as well as their identity.
