First Zika Virus Case in Lucas County, Ohio is Sexually-Transmitted, Officials Say
61-Year-Old Woman from Ohio is The First Reported Case of Sexually-Transmitted Zika Virus
Lucas County, Ohio has confirmed its first Zika virus casein a 61-year-old woman, officials said on Wednesday. Ohio has a total of 16 confirmed Zika cases.
Virus Came from Husband
The woman got the virus from her husband who came back from a Haiti trip, and was transmitted sexually according to Dr. David Grossman, health commissioner of Lucas County.
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Neither man nor woman was hospitalized because this particular Zika virus case is mild. The man's blood was sent to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Columbus, where it tested positive. Grossman said this case is a strong reminder that the disease can be transmitted sexually.
Health Precautions in Ohio
Necessary steps have been implemented by the Ohio Department of Health to ensure that the local mosquitoes aren't infected by the Zika virus, spreading the disease and affecting other residents.
Grossman said that "the chances of acquiring the disease in Northwest Ohio are close to zero." He adds that this may change in the coming months, but the state "doesn't necessarily have the right setting or species to propagate the disease."
Zika Guidelines on Sexual Transmission
The CDC has provided guidelines on how to prevent sexual transmission of the disease from travelers coming home. In particular, a man infected with Zika virus and showing symptoms should not engage in unprotected sex for the next six months. If a man doesn't reveal symptoms even if he came from a Zika-affected location, he should still refrain from engaging in unprotected sex for a minum of eight weeks after arrival.
Across the U.S., there are 755 Zika virus cases, all of which are linked with travel and none so far caused by local mosquito bites. Dr. Mary DiOrio, Ohio Department of Health's medical director, says that travelers who go to countries where the Zika virus is widespread must do safety measures to avoid mosquito bites.
Mosquito-bite transmissions of the Zika virus have been found in most countries in Central and South America, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Symptoms and Prevention
The Zika virus is mainly carried by the mosquito specie Aedes aegypti, and is commonly found in tropical countries and in the southern U.S. Another specie, Aedes albopictus, may also carry the virus. It grows well in warmer areas, so residents are advised to use first-rate mosquito repellents when going outdoors.
According to Medicine Net, Symptoms of Zika virus infection include headache, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, rash and fever. The virus is particularly dangerous to pregnant women, as contracting the virus could lead to brain defects in the fetus, including microcephaly. On the other hand, 80 percent of Zika virus infected people do not exhibit any symptoms so testing is necessary.
