Second Zika Virus Case Confirmed in Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut’s second case of Zika virus has been confirmed by the state Department of Public Health, officials announced on Friday.

DPH officials were informed on Friday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that a Connecticut man tested positive for the virus after returning from a trip to a Zika-affected area in the Caribbean.

The patient developed a rash one day after his return. No other symptoms were reported.

The state's first Zika case was confirmed in March and involved a woman in her 60's who had traveled to a Zika-affected area.

“We encourage those concerned about symptoms to consult their doctor, particularly if they have traveled to an affected area and particularly if they are pregnant,” Governor Dannel P. Malloy said in a statement. “We have been actively taking steps for months to prepare for a positive case, including expedited testing and a coordinated response across agencies. While the risk of transmission is low, we are nevertheless no doubt continuing that preparation to the extent that we can.”

DPH Commissioner Raul Pino said Friday’s test result “highlights the need for everyone to take precautions if they are travelling to areas affected by Zika. While this virus is particularly dangerous for the babies of pregnant women, men need to be just as vigilant so that they don’t transmit the virus to their partners through sexual contact.”

In January, Malloy directed DPH to test for Zika virus.

While this particular test was done by NYC Health officials, the CT DPH Laboratory has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform two separate levels of testing for the Zika virus, giving patients and their physicians the ability to receive test results in a matter of days. Prior to this approval, specimens were sent to the CDC for testing, with an average turnaround of 3-4 weeks.

To date, 388 cases of Zika have been reported in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Of those, 33 were pregnant women and another 8 were sexually transmitted.

In Connecticut, 220 patients, including 204 pregnant women, have been tested for Zika virus. Friday’s result is the second positive test in Connecticut.

The first patient, a non-pregnant female, has since recovered from her illness, officials said.

Zika generally causes a fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes for a couple of days to a week and the need for hospitalization is rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The biggest risk is to pregnant women and their unborn children.

The virus can cause Microcephaly in infants, which is a potentially life-threatening birth defect that results in the baby having a smaller head than expected.

Zika is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, but can be transmitted via sexual contact and in rare cases from a mother to her child.