However, Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, making the new-born baby have an abnormally small head and brain damage.
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Mosquitos carrying the virus have been found in 12 California counties, but there is no evidence at this time of those mosquitoes transmitting Zika within the state. The department reported that 114 travel-associated Zika virus infections have been reported in 22 California counties as of July 29.
State health officials said they are working with other agencies to, “ensure that California is responding aggressively and appropriately to the emerging threat of Zika virus”. State health officials are monitoring 19 other pregnant women who have the virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden also surveyed the neighborhood Thursday morning, saying he was “impressed” by efforts to control the mosquito population in the area.
The department said it has conducted testing for more than 2,460 people statewide. Of those infected, 55 were pregnant women.
Unborn babies can develop severe birth defects.
Zika is most commonly spread by tropical Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. All cases were travel-related, the department said.
San Bernardino County has had six people test positive for Zika. “Both men and women of childbearing age should take precautions if they have recently traveled, or plan to travel, to a location where Zika is spreading”, said Smith.
Zika virus can spread through mosquito bites, and common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
After traveling to countries with outbreaks of the illness, the mothers became infected with the virus. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.
The same is true for the four confirmed Zika cases in Collier County and the lone case in Charlotte County.
In general, women who may have been exposed are advised to wait at least eight weeks before attempting to conceive.
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So far, the almost 1,700 Zika infections reported in the United States mainly have been linked to travel to countries with Zika outbreaks in Latin America or the Caribbean.
