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Zika virus shows up in North Idaho |
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August 24, 2016 |
A north Idaho woman over the age of 60 who
recently traveled to Mexico is confirmed to have
been infected with Zika virus, which can cause
severe birth defects if infection occurs in
pregnant women. This is the first reported case
of Zika virus infection in the state, with Idaho
becoming the 47th state to report a
travel-related Zika virus infection this year.
The woman reportedly had symptoms, but did not
require hospitalization. Zika is a
mosquito-borne virus that is most commonly
spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti or
Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are not found
in Idaho. Because of this, there is no danger to
the general public of the virus circulating
through casual contact.
Only one in five people exposed to the virus
usually develop any symptoms, which are usually
mild and last from a few days to a week after
infection. The most common symptoms of infection
are fever, rash, muscle and joint aches, and
pinkeye. Zika is known to cause serious birth
defects and other poor pregnancy outcomes in
babies whose mothers are infected during
pregnancy. There is no preventive vaccine for
Zika virus.
Zika virus is not spread from person to person
through casual contact, but can be spread
through sexual contact by both men and women.
People who have recently traveled to an area
with active Zika virus transmission should
either use a condom or avoid sex to reduce their
risk.
If a woman is pregnant, condoms should be used
during all sexual contact and for the duration
of the pregnancy if their partner recently
traveled to an area with local Zika
transmission.
Women wanting to become pregnant should not try
to conceive for at least eight weeks after they
or their partner’s return from an area where
Zika virus is circulating if neither partner had
symptoms of Zika virus infection, or six months
if either had symptoms. Women who are pregnant
or trying to become pregnant are strongly
advised to avoid travel to areas of Zika virus
transmission unless it is absolutely necessary.
Aedes mosquitoes are daytime biters that prefer
temperate and tropical climates. Travelers are
advised to take precautions when visiting areas
where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. This
includes a small area of north Miami in Florida,
and many countries in Central and South America,
Mexico and the Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
If you plan to travel to an area where Zika
virus is circulating, public health officials
recommend you protect yourself from mosquito
bites by:
* Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants
* Using EPA-registered insect repellents
* Using permethrin-treated clothing and gear
* Staying and sleeping in screened-in or
air-conditioned rooms
Since January, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 1,658 Zika
disease cases nationwide. Almost all of those
cases are related to travel outside the United
States. Idaho has had no confirmed cases of Zika
virus infection reported prior to this case. |
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