Announcing the first Connecticut resident to be diagnosed with a case of the Zika virus acquired in the United States, the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reminded residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.

The patient recently traveled to Florida, where Zika-infected mosquitoes have been found in several locations, the health department said in a news release.

Pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant are urged to avoid travel to regions affected by the virus, which includes much of the Caribbean and Central and South America. Those who do travel there should take steps to prevent mosquito bites, the health department said.

The virus primarily is spread my mosquito bites, but also can be spread through sexual transmission. While illness is usually mild, there is a possible link with birth defects and miscarriages, the department said.

In Connecticut, surveillance for Zika virus began in February. Thus far, 85 patients have tested positive for the virus, five of whom were pregnant. According to the Center's for Disease Control and Prevention, 3,358 cases of the virus have been reported in the United States. For more information, visit HTTP://CT.gov/zika.