Taiwan today reported an imported Zika infection in a woman who had recently visited Miami, and Florida health officials reported three more locally acquired infections, with two of the patients potentially exposed outside of Miami's Wynwood area, the outbreak hot spot.

The case in Taiwan is the first known Zika infection detected in a foreign country that has links to the US mainland. Earlier this week, Texas health officials reported an infection in a person who was likely exposed to the virus in Miami.

Woman traveled to Miami for business

In a statement, Taiwan's Center for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) said the patient is a 44-year-old woman who visited Miami for business between Jul 31 and Aug 11. After arriving back in Taiwan she developed a rash on her legs and abdomen, and her Zika infection was detected after she sought medical care.

The investigation revealed she had visited Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The findings were confirmed by the Taiwan CDC. The woman is not pregnant, and her symptoms have improved. Health officials asked her to isolate herself at home and avoid mosquito bites until Aug 23.

So far no Zika virus has been detected in two of the woman's coworkers who traveled with her to Miami or in any of her household members.

The woman's illness is Taiwan's sixth imported Zika virus case.

Florida cases rise to 33

The Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) today reported three more locally acquired Zika infections, with one patient exposed to the virus in the less-than-1-square-mile area north of downtown where officials say they think active transmission is still occurring.

The three new cases lift Florida's number of local cases to 33.

The department now has seven active investigations underway, six of them outside the defined transmission area. Health officials have been collecting and testing human samples, and mosquito abatement activities are underway in some of the areas of interest.

Officials also announced 12 more travel-linked cases today, as well as 3 Zika infections in pregnant women. The state now has 461 cases related to travel and is following 63 infected pregnant women.

See also:

Aug 17 Taiwan CDC press release

Aug 17 Florida Health daily Zika update