MANSFIELD, Ohio — With Tuesday’s news that two confirmed cases of the Zika virus reaching Ohio, concerns are heightened.
There are no reports of the Zika virus being transmitted through mosquito bites anywhere in the United States. Both of the individuals from Ohio who have contracted the disease traveled back from Haiti.
“We have gotten more calls from people who are intending to travel,” said Keith Evans, Supervisor of Communicable Diseases for Richland Public Health.
Evans said chances are remote the Zika virus will reach Richland County. The virus is transmitted from infected mosquitos, a population of insect that is notably low at this time of year, Evans said.
A press release issued by RPH Wednesday advises men who have traveled to the countries under travel advisories to abstain from sex or to use a condom. The virus has been found to spread by intercourse and the lifespan of the disease in semen is unknown.
“The people that should be concerned though are those who are traveling to the countries that have traveling advisories,” he said.
More specifically, pregnant women or women considering becoming pregnant, should first consult their doctors before traveling to countries under travel advisories. Evans advises they refrain from travel if possible.
The Zika virus has recently been linked to certain birth defects like microcephaly. Symptoms in adults, which typically last several days to a week, include fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis and headaches.
These symptoms rarely lead to hospitalization and 80 percent of those with the virus do not show symptoms, according to the RPH press release.
According to CDC, those countries under a travel advisory include, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S., American Samoa, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaҫao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname, Tonga and Venezuela.
According to a press release issued by Richland Public Health, as of Feb. 10, there are 40 cases of the Zika virus in the United States and 35 of those infected traveled out of the country. The remaining five cases are from Florida and Texas.
“There is no vaccine available for Zika virus so it’s important for Ohioans traveling to affected areas to take steps to prevent mosquito bites,” said Dr. Mary DiOrio, medical director of the Ohio Department of Health.
DiOrio also offered prevention tips.
“Prevention of mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission is the same as prevention of any other mosquito-borne diseases,” DiOrio said. “This includes taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites – such as using insect repellents, limiting exposure where and when mosquitoes are most active, and removing breeding sources such as containers that collect standing water.”
For more information on the Zika virus, visit RPH, CDC or ODH websites.
