Zika virus detected in woman in Spokane County

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued travel an advisory saying that pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant should defer or cancel their travel to the affected areas.

She was not pregnant, nor was she hospitalized, health department spokeswoman Carole Barasch said. That statement did not indicate the woman’s age or town.

New Hampshire has its first identified case of the Zika virus.

The Zika virus is found in tropical locales with large mosquito populations. It is not spread from person-to-person except by sexual relations.

The Zika virus infection is related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus.

Dozens of St. Louis County residents have been tested for Zika, health officials said.

Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes microcephaly, a condition marked by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.

The state can now test for the Zika virus at a Rocky Hill laboratory instead of sending samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. But as many as 80 percent of people infected never develop symptoms.

To date, 107 travel-associated Zika virus cases have been reported nationally. There are a few cases in which the virus might have been spread by sex, but this appears to be very unusual.

Queensland Health says there is a low chance of the Zika virus being established in Townsville mosquitoes.

What is the history of the Zika virus?

However, the situation is far more dire for pregnant women, whose developing fetuses are now thought to be extremely vulnerable to the virus. Health officials in Hawaii had previously reported that a woman who had lived in Brazil gave birth to a baby with microcephaly. However, women infected with the virus have given birth to children with serious birth defects, including brain damage.

Health and Human Services continues to monitor it, along with partner agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“My hope from this exercise is that, by having these conversations now, we will know exactly if we get a case of Zika during our mosquito season, what steps will be taken by all of the entities in that area”, DiOrio said.

On Wednesday, join Deena Centofanti and two experts from Beaumont Health as they talk about the risks of the Zika virus.