SAN ANTONIO – A new Zika virus case has been confirmed in Bexar County, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District said Wednesday.
There are now four confirmed Zika cases in Bexar County. Test results from 28 people were determined to be negative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 17 people countywide are under investigation for possible infection.
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The four people with confirmed cases acquired the infection while traveling abroad, officials said.
The Zika virus is part of the same family of viruses that cause yellow fever, West Nile, Chikungunya and dengue. Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. In rare cases, it can be transmitted through sexual activity or blood transfusion.
People who contract the virus may not realize that they've been infected because the illness is usually mild. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes. Symptoms typically begin two to seven days after someone being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Because of a possible link between infection during pregnancy and microcephaly in infants, pregnant women are strongly advised to delay travel to Zika-affected areas. If travel is unavoidable, they should take extra precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Pregnant woman who traveled to a Zika-affected area within the last 12 weeks are urged to see their health care provider.
Pregnant women and women who are considering becoming pregnant and who have a sex partner living in or traveling to Zika-affected areas are urged to abstain from all types of sex or use condoms correctly and consistently for the duration of the pregnancy.
Men who traveled to a Zika-affected area also should abstain from sex or use condoms correctly and consistently for three months after their return.
With no treatment or vaccine available, the only protection against Zika is to avoid travel to Zika-affected areas. If travel is necessary to a country where Zika is present, the CDC advises strict adherence to mosquito protection measures:
- Use air conditioning or window/door screens.
- Use mosquito repellant on skin and clothing, even during the day.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Empty standing water from outdoor containers, even small ones.
People are urged to see a doctor if they develop a fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes within two weeks of traveling. People should also tell their doctor where they traveled.