Zika Virus: 33 Cases Now Reported in Virginia

Asian Tiger mosquito; no local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the United States. Photo courtesy of CDC

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The number of reported cases of the Zika virus now numbers 33 in Virginia, according to the latest statistics reported Thursday by the Virginia Department of Health. Of those, 21 cases have been reported in the northern region of the Commonwealth, which includes the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Virginia saw an increase of six cases this week, up from 27 on June 30.

No local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the United States, but lab tests have confirmed Zika virus in travelers returning to the United States, according to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC). These travelers have gotten the virus from mosquito bites and some non-travelers got Zika through sex with a traveler.

The Zika virus is spread when someone is bitten by an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger) mosquito, which is found in Virginia, experts have said. The mosquito is known for its black and white markings; it breeds in containers.

Only about 20 percent of people who become infected with Zika virus exhibit symptoms, and those who do typically have only mild symptoms, such as fever, red eyes, rash and joint pain, according to the CDC. However, Zika infections in pregnant women have been tied to microcephaly in their infants — a condition that causes unusually small brains and heads, and brings lifelong cognitive impairments.

As of this week, there are 934 Zika cases reported nationwide that were contracted through traveling to areas where the Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito and 13 cases that were transmitted sexually; four cases are associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

The CDC reports that of the Zika cases nationwide, 287 of those were reported by pregnant women living in the United States and DC. The CDC offers these tips to protect pregnant women from the Zika virus.

In the United States, New York has the most cases of the Zika virus, with 236, followed by Florida, with 182 and California with 55.

The Zika virus will likely be in the media spotlight even more next month, when the Summer Olympics kick off August 5 in Brazil, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus. Off! bug spray is a sponsor.