Orange County traveler tests positive for Zika virus

GOSHEN, N.Y. — Orange County’s Department of Health has announced that an Orange County resident who recently traveled to South America has tested positive for the Zika virus.

Zika virus cannot be spread by casual person-to-person contact. The symptoms of Zika virus infection are usually very mild and many people might not even realize they have been infected.

Symptoms typically begin two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Only one in five people infected with Zika virus will get sick, with the most common symptoms being fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes).

There have been reports of increased cases of a birth defect known as microcephaly that may be associated with Zika virus infection among pregnant women. There is currently no vaccine to prevent infection or treatment for Zika virus.

“There is virtually no risk of acquiring Zika virus in this region or even in the state,” said Dr. Eli Avila, Orange County’s Commissioner of Health. “The Department is passing along the CDC recommendation that people check the CDC website with travel advisories to areas where the Zika virus is found and take those precautionary measures.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing (www.cdc.gov/travel).

Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bite.

Orange County Department of Health suggests women see their healthcare provider if pregnant and develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes within two weeks after traveling to a country where Zika virus cases have been reported.

For more information, call the Orange County Department of Health at 291-2332.

Two other cases have been reported in New York State - a woman who lives in Nassau County on Long Island and another who lives on Staten Island.