Bahamas gov't says islands 'safe' despite 4 cases of Zika


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NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The Bahamas has confirmed four cases of mosquito-born Zika virus, including two transmitted in the islands.

The Ministry of Health says in a statement released Monday that all four cases were on the most populous island of New Providence. Health Minister Perry Gomez said authorities have intensified insecticide spraying around the island.

The government insisted the island chain is a "safe place to travel."

The Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and cays east of Florida. Authorities in Florida have detected more than two dozen cases believed to have been transmitted in the southern part of the state.

Zika symptoms can include fever, rash, reddened eyes and joint pain. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control says infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects.

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