Travis County has its first confirmed case of the Zika virus, according to an announcement released on Thursday by the city. The virus – which is transmitted by mosquitoes – is believed to be linked to a dramatic increase in birth defects in Brazil, where the first infection was confirmed in May 2015. Zika has been declared by the World Health Organization to be an “emerging public health threat.” So far, with the exception of a case in Dallas County, infections in the United States have been limited to travelers returning from areas where the virus is active, as is the case with the infected person in Travis County. According to the city’s announcement, “The person, a male under the age of 50, contracted the illness while travelling to Colombia.” More information on the virus is available on the city’s website, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released guidelines for precautions recommended for pregnant women in particular.
First Zika diagnosis in Travis County
