Officials: Zika Case Confirmed In Monroe County
MONROE COUNTY (WWJ) -- A Monroe County resident is the latest in Michigan to test positive for the Zika virus.
Officials tell WWJ Newsradio 950 that the unidentified patient contracted the disease on a trip outside the state.
Angela Minicuci with the state Health Department said there have been over 20 diagnosed cases in Michigan so far, but none have been contracted within the state.
"It is on track in terms of the type of transmission we expected from Michigan," Minicuci said. "We have not found the mosquito that transmits the virus in Michigan or near Michigan. So, that is what we expected -- we expected all of our cases to be travel-associated or potentially sexually transmitted."
Minicuci said the case is more evidence that certain residents should heed the government's warning to avoid travel to Zika hot spots.
"It applies both to women who are pregnant, are considering getting pregnant in the next couple months, but also to men who have pregnant partners or potentially are looking at getting pregnant with their partners sometime soon, because of that fact that men can transmit it to female partners," Minicuci said.
Zika is spread by mosquitos. The outbreak was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation in February.