The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District confirmed Monday the first case of the Zika Virus in Bexar County.
Metro Health confirmed the case with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Health District also reported that they are investigating other possible infections. All of the cases are related to travel in affected areas. It is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
About one in five people infected with Zika will get sick. According the World Health Organization, which met today to discuss the virus, most people infected with the virus will have no symptoms. But the virus has been linked to brain abnormalities in babies born in Brazil.
Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes), and usually begin 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The patient in Bexar County’s confirmed case has now recovered and is virus-free. There is no treatment or vaccine available at this time. Health organizations are warning travelers to avoid affected countries. And Brazil is warning women to avoid getting pregnant.
If you do travel to an affected area, the CDC is recommending you take precautions to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
To do so:
§ Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts thick enough to block a mosquito bite
§ Sleep in air-conditioned, screened rooms
§ Use an EPA-approved repellent over sunscreen
If you have traveled to a country where Zika virus is occurring and are experiencing any of the symptoms talk with your health care provider.
