The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment confirmed Friday night that a Johnson County, Kansas, resident tested positive for Zika virus after traveling to an area where mosquitos are spreading the disease.
“Because this case was acquired while traveling, we want to emphasize that the risk of contracting Zika virus in our area is extremely low,” says Lougene Marsh, JCDHE director. “We have provided information to the individual about avoiding mosquito bites to prevent further spread of the virus."
STORY: Prairie Village taking steps to stop spread of mosquitoes carrying Zika virus
According to health officials, it took three weeks until the blood work came back positive for Zika.
Marsh says travelers returning to the United States from an area with active Zika virus transmission should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for at least three weeks so they do not spread Zika locally.
“What would be required for anyone else to be at risk is for one of the Aedes mosquito species to bite that infected individual, and then for that same mosquito to bite someone else. At that point, that single mosquito could transmit the virus," said Marsh.
JCDHE is currently conducting a study with the University of Kansas to determine the extent to which mosquitos capable of carrying the Zika virus are present in Johnson County. JCDHE and CDC also recommend that pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika.
READ: Sex transmission of Zika more common than first thought
Zika virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause microcephaly, a serious birth defect of the brain and other birth defects in babies of mothers who had Zika virus while pregnant.
Zika also can be spread sexually from a man to his partner.
Below are some steps we can take to prevent the spread of mosquitos.
- Remove standing water.
- Flip over outdoor toys that can collect water.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts.
- Reapply insect repellent as directed.
Click here for more information.
-----
