HARTFORD — A pregnant woman from Connecticut has tested positive for the Zika virus, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Officials say she traveled to a Zika affected region and contracted the virus.
According to the Department of Public Health, the patient got a fever and rash while she was traveling in Central America. She then returned to Connecticut, at which point her blood was taken. The DPH State Laboratory identified Zika in the patient’s blood, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the result.
However, the patient has since left the country again to go to Central America, so the DPH is trying to contact her or her family to tell them about the positive result and ensure she gets medical help.
“We are working with the patient’s physician to ensure that both the physician and the patient have all the necessary information and guidance they need,” said DPH Commissioner Raul Pino. “This virus is very dangerous for the babies of pregnant women, causing serious birth defects and miscarriages.”
Officials have been warning for months that those who travel to Zika-impacted areas, especially those who intend to become pregnant, take extra precautions or postpone travel. However, on Tuesday, Commissioner Pino reasserted the need for male partners of women who intend to become pregnant or are already pregnant also take extra precautions because Zika can be sexually transmitted.
Pino also warns that you may be able to sexually transmit the illness for at least six months after symptoms begin. Also, it can take as long as eight weeks after travel for symptoms to appear, so if you visit an infected area you should still consider using condoms or not having sex even if you don't feel ill.
So far, 426 travel-related cases of Zika have been reported in the United States, 36 of which were pregnant woman. Eight of the patients received it through sexual transmission.
In Connecticut, 245 patients have been tested for Zika, including 217 pregnant woman. This is the third positive result in the state, and the first for a pregnant woman.
