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Connecticut Officials Advise Pregnant Women To Avoid Zika Virus Regions

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- State health officials continue to monitor for the Zika virus and alert the public of the potential to contract the virus while traveling abroad.

Acting State Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Raul Pino.

Acting State Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Raul Pino.

Photo Credit: wnpr.org

Pregnant women especially are being advised to postpone travel to affected areas.

“Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing,” said Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino. “Pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant 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 bites during the trip.”

The Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites, similar to West Nile virus or dengue fever. While illness is usually mild, and severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, there is a possible link between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and subsequent birth defects.

The DPH has asked Connecticut healthcare providers to report suspected cases of Zika virus infection.

There are currently no cases in Connecticut.

“We are working closely with Acting Commissioner Raul Pino and monitoring the situation,” Governor Dannel Malloy said. “We continue to keep a close eye on the virus and I will be getting briefings and updates on the matter as needed.”

Health officials say no locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in the continental United States, but cases have been reported in returning travelers.

According to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the mosquito species that is primarily responsible for transmission of the Zika virus to people is not found in Connecticut.

“Closely related species are present in very low numbers and are unlikely to present a risk of Zika virus infection to people in Connecticut,” said Phil Armstrong, medical entomologist with the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control have issued a notice advising people traveling to affected areas in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

The virus was identified in 1947 in the Zika Forest in Uganda. The mosquitoes that transmit the virus become infected when they feed on a person already infected with it.

Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the Zika virus infection. The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis.

The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Infection is thought to provide lifelong immunity.

Travelers can protect themselves from this disease by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites.

When traveling to countries where viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants. Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.

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