Florida Expands Zika Emergency As First Reported Case From Blood Transfusion Emerges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/nyregion/new-york-state-to-offer-free-zika-testing-for-pregnant-travelers.html?ref=world&_r=0 In its lead story, the CBS Evening News (2/4, lead story, 2:30, Pelley) reported there are now at least 51 cases in the US. Correspondent Mark Strassmann added that with 80 percent of Zika patients showing no symptoms, “it’s likely there are many more cases than the official numbers indicate.” NBC Nightly News (2/4, story 6, 0:25, Holt) reported that Florida expanded its state of emergency to five counties as Gov. Rick Scott said on Thursday there are now 12 confirmed Zika cases in the state, all from people infected outside the US. ABC World News (2/4, story 5, 1:35, Muir) added that that Scott has requested “thousands more” kits to be tested for Zika, as the state currently has less than 1,000. Meanwhile, Linzie Janis reported that the first case of Zika infection from a blood transfusion was reported in Brazil. Jon LaPook, MD, reported on the CBS Evening News (2/4, story 2, 2:10, Pelley) that donated blood is “not yet tested” for the virus in Brazil. Donors instead “are asked if they’ve recently been ill,” but since most don’t show symptoms, “self-reporting misses most infections.” LaPook added that there is a test that can detect Zika virus in blood samples, “but it’s not government approved in Brazil or in the United States where about 21 million units are transfused each year.”