The Department of Public Health confirmed Connecticut’s first case of the Zika virus, state officials said Friday evening.
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The Trioplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay is a breakthrough diagnostic tool, which is capable of also revealing chikungunya and dengue as well as Zika in just one test, instead of three separate exams.
The CDC reports that as of March 16, there have been 258 cases of Zika virus infection reported in the United States. Zika has become an epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean since last fall.
The state is already offering free Zika virus tests to pregnant women who have traveled to affected areas or have sexual partners who have. Before the samples would have to be sent to other laboratories, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s laboratory in Atlanta.
Although the Zika virus is transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito in South and Central America, a related species, Aedes albopictus, is present in the downstate region of NY. Cuomo said the cases have so far been limited to Long Island, New York City and its northern suburbs.
“Savvy travelers know that preparation is essential for a great trip, and today that involves bringing mosquito repellent, dressing to prevent bites and using condoms if you are planning to have sex”, said Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) epidemiologist Christine Mulgrew. The defects include a syndrome that can cause babies to have undersized heads and brains that are not fully developed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel alert Saturday that “mosquitoes in the area are infected with Zika virus and are spreading it to people”.
“They are the ones with their boots on the ground really monitoring” this, she said. Eighteen cases were of pregnant women and six were reportedly transmitted sexually.
All of these cases originated with people who traveled to an area with Zika, Thornton said.
All 115 patients (not including the newborn) reported clinical symptoms of Zika, including the mother of the infant born with microcephaly, according to the CDC.
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There is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika virus, which causes symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes lasting from a week to 10 days, according to the CDC.
