At least 33 US troops have Zika

At least 33 active-duty members of the U.S. military have tested positive for Zika so far, including one pregnant woman, according to a report from The Washington Post.

Ten of the infected servicemen — serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — are part of the Southern Command, which has troops in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their infections were tied to five locations: Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Martinique.

Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!

It is unclear where the other 23 infected military members contracted Zika, as a Pentagon spokesperson said it is "protected health information," according to the Post. According to the CDC, 54 countries or U.S. territories currently have active Zika transmission. Additionally, mosquitoes could be transmitting Zika in Miami.

Zika virus is especially troublesome for pregnant women, as the virus can cause birth defects, including microcephaly.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Articles We Think You'll Like

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars