1st Zika Virus Case Confirmed in Rockland County

Rockland has joined the global health emergency that is the Zika virus.

A woman who recently traveled to a South American country where Zika transmission has been documented is Rockland County’s first case, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert confirmed on Friday.

“Zika virus symptoms may include low-grade fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis,” said Ruppert. “Symptoms typically begin two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is no vaccine or specific medicine to treat Zika virus infections. Pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies who have visited affected countries should consult with their health care providers.”

The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel advisory for affected countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Samoa and Cape Verde.

The World Health Organization declared Zika a global health emergency.

Also, on Tuesday the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Dallas Health Department confirmed that someone got infected by intercourse with another who had traveled in a Zika-infected country. The former never left the USA.

The infection is associated with severe birth defects, including microcephaly (a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age) and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant.

SEE: NY Offers Zika Virus Testing for Returning Pregnant Travelers

At this time there is no risk of acquiring Zika virus in Rockland County, Ruppert emphasized. The County Health Department is preparing for additional cases resulting from travelers.

Travelers are encouraged to visit the CDC Travel website - cdc.gov - for the most up-to-date recommendations. Pregnant travelers encountering obstacles from airlines and cruise lines may seek assistance from the Rockland County Office of Consumer Affairs by calling (845) 708-7600.

With the number of reported cases on the rise, the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories in Albany will begin to provide free Zika virus testing for all pregnant women who traveled to an area with ongoing Zika virus transmission during pregnancy.

SEE: Zika Virus ‘Spreading Explosively’ in Americas Reported in Hudson Valley