Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can make humans sick.
How can I get Zika virus?
Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes infected with Zika virus are currently found in areas of Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and most recently, South and Central America and Mexico.
What are the signs and symptoms of Zika virus?
Zika virus causes symptoms similar to dengue and chikungunya infection. The resulting illness is usually mild and consists of fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, and headache. Zika infections are rarely fatal.
Recently there has been evidence that Zika infections during pregnancy are associated with a birth defect called microcephaly.
Is there Zika virus in San Mateo County?
No, Zika virus is not currently transmitted in any part of the United States.
How can I protect myself and my family?
The CDC provides updated travel advisories concerning Zika virus and other mosquito-borne infections. The most recent advisory can be found at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
San Mateo County Health System today received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a San Mateo County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual was infected with Zika virus while traveling abroad and is now fully recovered. No transmission of the disease took place in the United States, and there was no risk of the virus spreading to the local community from this case. To protect patient privacy, San Mateo County is not releasing further details about the confirmed Zika case.
Although the risk of Zika virus in our county is extremely low at this time, it is still important to avoid introduction of invasive mosquitoes to our county and to limit their spread where they have been introduced. Keeping invasive Aedes mosquitoes out of our county reduces not only the risk of Zika virus, but of other diseases transmitted by invasive Aedes mosquitoes, like dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
You can help keep our communities free of invasive Aedes mosquitoes by following a few simple guidelines:
Zika virus has been on the front page of most news sources almost every day this month, and District staff members have received many questions from the family, friends, members of the public, and the media. Here are a few of the most common questions, and their answers:
