Pa. Health Officials Provide Update On Zika Virus
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania State Health Officials held a conference call Friday afternoon to update folks on the status of the Zika virus.
Dr. Loren Robinson, Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Pennsylvania Department of Health says they're keeping a close eye on the Zika virus outbreak.
"To date, there have been no confirmed Zika virus infections identified in Pennsylvania. There are about 6-8 tests pending of individuals who have returned to Pennsylvania from areas that have been affected by the Zika virus."
Infection disease specialist Dr. Stephen Colodny says for the most part, Zika is a mild infection.
"One in five patients who gets infected with Zia virus will be symptomatic, the majority are asymptomatic."
His colleague Dr. Ray Pontzer says the greatest risk is to pregnant women who contract Zika.
"Infants can be born with what's called microcephaly and that's an abnormal development of the fetus as it's growing resulting in an abnormal development of the skull."
He says the best prevention for pregnant women is to avoid Zika outbreak regions and take precautions against mosquitoes.