Two infants have been born in California with microcephaly after their mothers contracted the Zika virus while traveling overseas, the state Department of Public Health announced Thursday.
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CDPH said it is actively monitoring all pregnant women with Zika infection in California.
The department reported that 114 travel-associated Zika virus infections have been reported in 22 California counties as of July 29.
“We join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in urging pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission”.
A Snohomish County teenager has tested positive for the Zika virus, according to results released to the Snohomish Health District.
Currently, there are Zika outbreaks in a neighborhood of Miami, and in South America where thousands of Americans are converging for the Olympic games.
Pregnant women have been advised not to travel to those areas because of the risk of microcephaly in infants. Local transmission occurs when an infected mosquito in the area bites another person in the area and transmits the virus.
Five cases were reported in Orange County, three in Seminole County, two in Brevard County and one in St. Lucie County. Initial symptoms include fever, rash and joint pain, but there are concerns for pregnant women infected with Zika and passing it onto their unborn children.
Thirty-three USA military members have infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, including a pregnant woman, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. “They also work with the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Lab to test mosquitos for the Zika and Dengue viruses”, said Gomez.
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Scott said even though this is good news, they are still aggressively spraying for mosquitoes and testing residents. The virus is usually spread by mosquitoes, but it can also be passed through sex. “Most will have no symptoms, and most of the rest will have a short, mild illness and become immune to future infections”.
