Health officials reported the first case of Zika in Arizona on Monday. The infection has been categorized as travel-related.
"We have been expecting a travel associated case of Zika virus and we believe more infections are likely as people travel to and from areas where the disease is currently being transmitted," said Cara Christ, MD, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. "While this is a first, the risk of this virus spreading throughout Arizona is very low. Arizona's public health system has a plan in place and we are ready to rapidly respond."
The infected party is a woman from Maricopa County that recently traveled abroad to a region where Zika has proliferated.
"As soon as public health became aware of the suspect case, the individual was contacted to ensure she stayed indoors and avoided being bitten by mosquitoes to prevent further spread of the virus," said Bob England, MD, director of Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
One of the mosquito species that spreads Zika, the Aedes aegypti, is native to Arizona, but state health officials believe there is no evidence to support that the virus is being transmitted within the state.
In addition to microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads, Zika has exhibited a connection to other neurologically debilitating conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, paralysis and deadly inflammation of the brain.
More articles on the Zika virus:
CDC updates guidance on Zika transmission prevention & pregnancy: 7 things to know
New evidence suggests Zika could be hidden in many parts of the world: 3 things to know
Infographic: Where in the US have Zika cases been reported? [March 25 update]