3 pregnant women test positive for Zika

The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States was reported in Texas in early February by local health officials, who said it likely was contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite.

Although sexual transmission of Zika virus infection is possible, mosquito bites remain the primary way that Zika virus is transmitted, the CDC noted.

Until Tuesday, the CDC had only confirmed one USA case of Zika being sexually transmitted.

The CDC continues to recommend that men who have been to an area where there is active Zika transmission use condoms during sex with a pregnant partner, or abstain from sex for the duration of her pregnancy. The most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, headache or conjunctivitis (red eyes).

The virus’ greatest risk is to pregnant women or those who may become pregnant, due to possible links to microcephaly (a birth defect causing small heads and incomplete brain development in infants). Dr. James Musser, chairman of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist, said several other hospitals are working on their own Zika tests and are expected to roll them out soon.

“Travelers to areas where Zika virus is present should contact their doctor if they experience symptoms associated with Zika virus during their trip, or within a week of their return home”, Wells said, in a written statement. Testing of the male partners in these two cases is still pending, reports NBC News.

Director-General Margaret Chan made the comments at the end of her two-day visit to Brazil, the country at the epicenter of the Zika crisis.

Currently, the CDC has issued an advisory for pregnant women to avoid traveling to Zika-affected areas. The tests are not commercially available and show whether a person has ever been exposed to the Zika virus. That same mosquito is found in the Southern U.S. and officials expect they will eventually spread the virus, too.

According to the Florida Department of Health, all three cases of the disease were acquired while traveling outside of the United States.

The man, who had recently returned from South America, had spent time at the hotel. There are no locally acquired cases of the Zika virus in Florida. Health officials were also doorknocking nearby homes to make contact with any pregnant women.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has asked the CDC to send 250 additional Zika antibody tests to the state following Wednesday’s news.