Pregnant San Francisco Woman Diagnosed With Zika Virus
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A pregnant San Francisco woman who recently returned from a trip to Central America has tested positive for the Zika virus, health officials said Friday.
But the San Francisco Department of Public Health was quick to announced that there was no risk to others.
"Zika is not circulating in San Francisco, and there is no danger to residents," said Dr. Tomas Aragon, Health Officer for the City and County of San Francisco, in a press release. "For San Franciscans considering travel to Zika affected areas, we urge pregnant women to postpone their plans if possible and advise every traveler to take mosquito precautions."
Health officials said Zika is a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. It generally causes mild symptoms of fever, joint pain, rash and red eyes.
The mosquito that spreads Zika, called Aedes, is the same mosquito that spreads other viruses such as dengue fever. Officials said no Aedes mosquitos have been found in San Francisco.
- MORE INFORMATION>>Center For Disease Control Webpage On Zika
Officials said the woman was currently showing no signs of the disease and that she was ongoing evaluation to make sure the virus had not infected her unborn child.
It was the second case of Zika virus detected in San Francisco. Both victims had contracted the disease while traveling.
The first case was confirmed on February 4, 2016. That patient, who was not pregnant, had also recently returned from travel in Central America and has fully recovered.
Currently Zika is circulating in a number of countries, mostly Latin America, the Caribbean and some of the Pacific Islands.
Brazil has experienced an increase in cases of the birth defect microcephaly, where babies are born with unusually small heads. Though microcephaly has been linked to maternal infection with Zika virus, it does not happen in every case and the risk is still being researched.
Sexual transmission of Zika virus from men to women and men to men also has been observed. There is no Zika vaccine at this time, but global research is underway.