PREGNANT CONNECTICUT WOMAN HAS ZIKA VIRUS

Hartford — A Connecticut woman who traveled to Central America and became pregnant while there has been diagnosed with the Zika virus, the state Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.

The department said the woman, whose name, age and hometown have not been released, became ill with a fever and a rash while traveling about a month ago. She was tested for Zika after returning to Connecticut, the department said.

The woman is a state resident but has returned to Central America, and the agency is working with her doctor in Connecticut to contact her and ensure she and her family receive proper medical care, the department said.

The state Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that a pregnant Connecticut woman has tested positive for Zika virus.

Tuesday’s result is the third positive test in Connecticut and first for a pregnant woman, the health department said.

The woman became ill with a fever and rash while traveling in Central America, the health department said in a news release.

It was during this trip that the patient conceived.

The patient has since returned to Central America, the health department said in a news release.

Health department officials contacted the patient’s Connecticut physician Tuesday with the positive result and are working to get in touch with the patient or her family to ensure that she seeks medical care while she is out of the country, the health department said in a news release.

The State Laboratory identified Zika specific antibodies in the patient’s blood, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the findings, according to the release.

“The state continues to monitor Zika virus very closely,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said. “We have been preparing for months both to address positive cases and put measures in place to help prevent mosquito-related transmission of the virus here in Connecticut. As we’ve said, it wasn’t a question of if we would see a case, but when.”

“All of our relevant agencies have been preparing as much as possible with the expectation that we will see more cases this summer,” the governor said. “If you have traveled one of the Zika affected areas and are concerned about symptoms, particularly if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, I encourage you to consult your doctor.”

State public health Commissioner Raul Pino emphasized that the virus is very serious for the babies of pregnant women, as it has been linked to birth defects and miscarriages.

“It is extremely important for women who plan to become pregnant or who are pregnant to postpone travel to Zika affected areas,” he said.

“If travel cannot be avoided, women must take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites: wear insect repellant and long sleeves and pants, and stay in locations with window and door screens or air conditioning, if possible,” he advised.

Pino also stressed that the male partners of women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant also must take precautions if they travel to Zika-affected areas.

In order to avoid sexual transmission of the virus to their partner, men who have traveled should follow these CDC guidelines:

Men diagnosed with Zika or who had symptoms of Zika should consider using condoms or not having sex for at least six months after symptoms begin.

Men who have traveled to an area with Zika but did not develop symptoms should consider using condoms or not having sex for at least eight weeks after their return.

To date, 426 cases of travel- related Zika have been reported in the continental United States, the health department said.

Of those, 36 were pregnant women and eight were sexually transmitted.

In Connecticut, 245 patients, including 217 pregnant women, have been tested for Zika virus to date.