2 Cases of Zika Virus Confirmed In Pennsylvania

Two cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Pennsylvania, health officials say.

Authorities say the women recently traveled to countries impacted by the Zika outbreak, which is now being called a worldwide health emergency. The mosquito-borne virus can cause birth defects.

Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy told the Morning Call the women “pose no threat to the public.”

The location of the cases was not disclosed.

The Zika virus outbreak is ongoing in several countries in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. See the full list of Zika travel alerts here.

In response, health officials in Pennsylvania are spreading the word and asking doctors to be mindful of the potential of infection when diagnosing illnesses, especially in patients who have recently traveled to an affected area.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently issued this Health Advisory on Zika, which notes that all suspected cases of the infection should be reported to state officials.

The concern follows reports of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, according to the CDC.