DPH Commissioner Releases Statement on Zika Virus, Travel Concerns

"While Zika virus causes only mild symptoms in most people, it can have devastating, life-long consequences..."

 By RJ Scofield

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HARTFORD, CT – Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Raul Pino released a statement Sunday regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent announcement that an additional area of active Zika transmission has been identified in Brownsville, Texas.

“Based on confirmation by the State of Texas and the CDC of five cases of locally transmitted Zika virus, the CDC is advising pregnant women, women who plan to become pregnant and their sexual partners to consider postponing travel to Brownsville, Texas and, if travel must occur, to avoid the Brownsville area," Pino said in a release. "I encourage Connecticut women who are or plan to become pregnant and their partners to take these travel warnings very seriously. While Zika virus causes only mild symptoms in most people, it can have devastating, life-long consequences for unborn children."

As of Dec. 14, the DPH says 1,123 Connecticut patients have been tested for Zika virus, including 809 pregnant women. Of the 103 patients that have tested positive for Zika virus, five were pregnant women.

An additional 39 patients, 28 of which were pregnant, have tested positive for Flavivirus. This refers to a group of diseases that includes Zika, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever and other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.

"While we are not at risk for local transmission here in Connecticut during the winter months, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect Connecticut residents from Zika virus," Pino said in a release. "We will also continue to update Connecticut residents on travel warnings if and when local transmission is discovered, particularly in other areas of the southern United States.”