Monday, September 12, 2016

Travel-Related Zika Confirmed in Atlantic County Resident

An Atlantic County resident who recently returned from a trip to a country where there is active mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus has tested positive for the virus, the first confirmed travel-related case in the county, according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health.

The resident experienced symptoms of fever, rash, fatigue and joint pain upon return to the U.S. and sought medical attention from a health care provider. Blood samples were submitted to the state lab for testing where they were confirmed positive for the Zika virus. The NJ Department of Health then shared the test results with the county.

Symptoms of the Zika virus typically develop within seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last several days to a week, explained Atlantic County Public Health Officer Patricia Diamond.

“The patient is doing well and recovering nicely,” stated Diamond.

Before this case, Atlantic County was one of only four counties in the state that had not yet had a Zika case. There are currently 126 confirmed travel-related cases of Zika reported in 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties.

“We remind all residents who may be traveling to countries where Zika has been locally transmitted to be extremely vigilant in protecting themselves against mosquito bites and educating themselves about the virus - its symptoms and risks, especially to pregnant women,” said County Executive Dennis Levinson.

The CDC reports that Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.

To learn more about the Zika virus, visit the county’s web site at www.aclink.org/publichealth.

 

 

County News