Wisconsin now has two confirmed cases of the Zika virus.
Dane County has confirmed its first known case of the Zika virus. The first Wisconsin case was confirmed in Milwaukee County,May 18 after a woman returned from Honduras.
Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) says the second victim is a woman who lives in Dane County and is not pregnant. She recently traveled to Colombia, where Zika infected mosquitoes are present.
“Travelers are highly encouraged to follow prevention recommendations to avoid becoming infected with Zika virus,” said Janet Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC). “PHMDC has been advising healthcare providers to monitor patients who have been traveling for possible Zika symptoms, and we will continue to monitor the local mosquito population.”
The virus is linked to neurological defects in newborns and that's why pregnant women in the area are worried the infection is getting too close to home. The virus can be spread through sexual contact.
