BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 20, 2016–The Belize Ministry of Health has confirmed three additional cases of Zika infection in the Belize District, with the latest cases cropping up in Caye Caulker, where the persons reported having fever and rash earlier this month.

A Belize City woman was the first in the country to be diagnosed with Zika on May 16, 2016. Then on May 25, 2016, test results confirmed that a pregnant woman, 33, of Cayo was infected with Zika.

With a total of 8 cases now confirmed in Belize, including the latest three in the Belize District, the Ministry of Health said that it is investigating and closely monitoring the situation.

“We continue to engage with the local authorities in Caye Caulker along with the investigative team from the Central Region offices in Belize City,” the Ministry added.

There is heightened concern due to the onset of the rainy season, and the downpours which drenched the country over the past few days.

The Ministry said that its focus is now on the educational campaign to reduce mosquito breeding sites and also to protect women who are considering getting pregnant or may already be pregnant from the risk associated with contracting the Zika virus.

“While we continue to aggressively scale up efforts to reduce the mosquito population in the area along with local authorities, we once again ask for cooperation from the community to assist the Ministry and our local partners to clean up areas that may be breeding sites for the mosquitoes. This effort will continue, especially with the onset in the increase of rains,” the Ministry said.

(More on tracking Zika in Belize here: http://arcg.is/20ShtZp)