Has Zika virus traveled to the United States? A pregnant woman in Los Angeles who had been traveling abroad tested positive for the Zika virus after returning home. While Zika exhibits no symptoms, it is likely that infected mothers will give birth to babies suffering from a defect that results in an abnormally small head.
According to the Los Angeles Times, this is the second confirmed case of Zika virus in the country.
In both cases, the infected person had been traveling outside the country and then returned home with the virus.
In late January, the first case was reported. A young girl from Los Angeles Country became infected after returning home from El Salvador in November.
The virus causes no symptoms and is not a danger in and of itself. However, pregnant women who contract the virus have a high risk of microephaly, a birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. Such cases have been studied at length in Brazil.
Zike virus has begin to spread to other countries in the Americas, so authorities are recommending that pregnant women postpone travel, especially to infected areas, until their baby is born.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also advised travelers take caution when in other countries with regards to mosquitos and mosquito bites, as Zike is typically transferred via mosquito bites.
“People can reduce the spread of Aedes mosquitos by eliminating sits around their homes where mosquitos may breed by getting rid of containers and any other sites where water may collect and mosquitos lay their eggs,” officials said in the news release.