Confirmed Case of Zika Virus Found in the Hudson Valley
A Hudson Valley resident was recently diagnosed with the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects.
The Sullivan County Public Health Services received confirmation that a Sullivan County resident was diagnosed with the Zika virus. The unnamed person recently traveled to South America where Zika virus is common, officials say.
“There is currently NO local transmission of Zika virus from mosquitoes in Sullivan County, and there are no mosquitoes of the species type that can transmit the Zika virus in Sullivan County identified by surveillance performed by the NYS Department of Health,” Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said in a press release.
According to the CDC, the Zika virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby in the womb. The mosquito-borne virus is linked to a birth defect called microcephaly, which can cause babies to be born with tiny heads or brains.
The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. After being bitten by a Zika infected mosquito, it may take a week to up to four weeks to begin experiencing symptoms. The symptoms are usually very mild and many people don’t realize they have been infected.
In the video below, Dr. Stuart Feinstein told Hudson Valley Post, how concerned we should be about Zika in the Hudson Valley, how to protect yourself from Zika and more.
Check out this week's Top 5 Hudson Valley stories including a deer crashing through a windshield on I-84 during rush hour and a high school senior's tragic death.
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