Zika Virus Has Come to Idaho

Idaho now has its first confirmed case of the mosquito born Zika Virus. However, this is no reason for us to panic.

According to a press release from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, a 60 year old unidentified woman from northern Idaho, who traveled to Mexico is confirmed to have been infected with the Zika virus.

This is the first reported case of the Zika virus infection in the state, with Idaho becoming the 47th state to report a travel-related Zika virus infection so far this year.

The woman did not require hospitalization and is currently recovering.

The Zika virus is not spread from person to person through casual contact, but it can be spread through sexual contact by both men and women

Only twenty five percent of people exposed to the virus will show symptoms. Symptoms are usually mild and last from a few days. The most common symptoms of infection are fever, rash, muscle and joint aches and sometimes a case of pinkeye. However, the Zika virus can cause serious birth defects in babies whose mothers are infected during pregnancy. As of right now, there are no preventive vaccines for Zika.

The Zika virus is not spread from person to person through casual contact, but it can be spread through sexual contact by both men and women.  However there is a strange case in Utah being investigated where a man caught the virus from his infected father. Officials claim they don’t think he caught the virus from being bitten by a mosquito and aren’t sure how he may have contracted the virus from his father…The investigation is ongoing.