Officials will monitor for the virus.
Connecticut public health officials said Thursday even though in the short term the possibility of someone contracting Zika in Connecticut is minuscule, they wanted to ensure the public that efforts are being made to ensure the state is ready for even a single case.
“We are preparing to prevent, and to avoid and respond in the case that we have any cases,” said Dr. Raul Pino, Commissioner of Public Health, who’s first official day without an “acting” title was today.
Dr. Pino says the state will have the means to test for the Zika virus by the end of the month.
Doctors say Zika is the most problematic for pregnant women because the disease could lead to serious birth defects.
Ted Andreadis with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says there are 49 different kinds of mosquitoes in Connecticut and only one of them may have the capability to carry the virus.
He said the state will monitor all species, especially along the Connecticut shoreline, but reiterated that risks in Connecticut will remain low even during the summer.
"Let me go on record as saying that I do not anticipate that we will see it but we will monitor for it and we will test for it,” Dr. Andreadis said.
State officials said people need to take precautions like changing plans to South and Central American destinations if they’re pregnant, and wear mosquito repellent when the weather turns. They cautioned against any overreactions.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said, “You might ask is this a crisis? It is not a crisis but it is something state government is preparing for and we began this process about two weeks ago."
