First Case Of Zika Virus Reported In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY - A Sonoma County resident contracted Sonoma County's first case of Zika virus while traveling in Central America, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services said Thursday.

The traveler was bit by mosquitoes and had traveled to Central America "many weeks ago," spokesman Scott Alonso said.

The virus primarily spreads through infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that are present in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 12 California counties but not in Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services said.

The virus also can spread from a mother to her unborn baby, and transmission by infected males to their partners has been documented, health officials said.

When present, signs and symptoms of the virus are typically mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Rare neurological syndromes of the virus can lead to early pregnancy loss, microcephaly, absent or poorly developed brain structures and eye defects.

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"We anticipate more cases," Sonoma County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Karen Hollbrook said in a news release.

"Even though there is no risk for local transmission, our residents could be exposed to Zika virus through travel, sexual contact with travelers, and from mothers to their unborn babies," Hollbrook said.

"If you must travel do it safely; if you have sex do it safely too," Hollbrook said.

Bay City News, image via Patch archives