First Case of Zika Confirmed in Connecticut

The first case of Zika virus has been confirmed in Connecticut, the Department of Public Health said. 

The patient in their 60s had onset of illness on the day they returned from a Zika-affected area in early March, according to DPH. The case was detected by the Department of Public Health's state laboratory as part of the state's expedited response to the virus announced last month, DPH said. 

"I would urge all residents to avoid travel to affected countries, and if they must, to be vigilant.
As we have previously said, a confirmed case was never a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. Because
of the preparatory steps we’ve taken previously, we are able to test more quickly and in-state,"
DPH Commissioner Raul Pino said.

Symptoms of the Zika virus include skin rash, conjunctivitis, fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle aches.

State sources said the patient has been check out and is recovering. 

Connecticut is the 34th state to reportedly have cases of Zika. There have been 258 cases Zika confirmed in the United States. Out of those, six of those cases were transmitted sexually, the DPH said. 

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