Alabama Health Agency Confirms First Zika Case in State

Alabama health officials say they've confirmed the first travel-related case of the Zika virus in the state.

The Alabama Department of Public Health issued a statement Wednesday saying a resident of Morgan County in the Tennessee Valley tested positive for the virus.

Acting State Health Officer Tom Miller says more cases probably will show up in Alabama, noting there there are four tests results that are still pending.

β€œGiven the frequency of international travel to affected areas, we anticipate having additional positive cases. We are working with the medical community to identify high-risk individuals,” Miller said.

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily through the bites of Aedes mosquitos. These mosquitoes are the same species that transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses. It moved quickly through Latin America before showing up in the United States, most often in people who have traveled.

Federal and state officials say cases of the virus have been confirmed in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

In the last four months, authorities have recorded close to 4,000 cases in Brazil in which the Zika virus may have led to microcephaly in infants. The ailment results in an abnormally small head in newborns and is associated with various disorders including decreased brain development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Zika virus outbreak is likely to spread throughout nearly all the Americas.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance last week advising men who have been to a Zika outbreak region to use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman β€” for the entire duration of the pregnancy. U.S. health officials Friday also said the men might consider abstaining or using condoms even during sex with a woman who isn't pregnant.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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