Zika virus is most unsafe to pregnant women, because it can cause severe birth defects in babies if they are infected in the womb.
Advertisement
The Florida Department of Health is investigating the first possible non-travel related Zika virus infection in the state, health officials announced Tuesday.
The health department did not specify whether the new Zika case could have been spread by sexual contact, blood transfusion or any of the other known ways that the virus can be transmitted.
The “CDC has been working with state, local, and territorial health officials to prepare for the possibility of locally acquired Zika infection in the United States”, the agency said.
Of biggest concern are the 43 Florida women who are pregnant and have caught the virus.
Men returning from those areas should abstain from sex or use condoms during all sexual activity, the Health Department advised.
The inquiry into the two infections could shed light on the medical mystery surrounding a virus that’s still stumping doctors. The virus, linked to microcephaly in infants exposed in utero, usually causes only a mild illness so most cases are believed to go unreported.
The virus is typically spread by mosquitoes and also has been transmitted sexually.
An anti Zika virus kit, including a bug net, mosquito repellent, literature and anti mosquito dunks, is pictured in this April 29, 2016 photo illustration.
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
Counties of pregnant women are not disclosed.
“The investigation includes additional interviews with and laboratory testing of family members and health care workers who may have had contact with the person who died and trapping mosquitoes and assessing the risk of local spread by mosquitoes”.
Discussing the case, CDC director Thomas Frieden, MD said “We don’t have any evidence that suggests Zika can be passed from one person to another by sneezing or coughing or sharing utensils”, but that this case could challenge that belief.
Advertisement
Drain standing water around their homes to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
