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2nd case of Zika confirmed in Hawaii

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aedes aegypti mosquito pupas floated inside a mosquito cage at a laboratory in Cucuta, Colombia on Feb. 11. State officials today confirmed the second case of Zika in Hawaii.

State officials today reported the second confirmed case of Zika in Hawaii.

The individual, a Kauai resident, had recently traveled to Latin America and may still be infectious, state health officials said. They advised the person to stay indoors and to protect themself from mosquitoes. No other information about the individual will be made available in order to protect medical privacy, according to the health department.

A Vector Control team will be sent to the person’s home to determine if treatment to control mosquitoes is needed, the health department said.

“As Zika continues to spread in multiple regions across the world, we anticipate that we will experience an increase in imported cases and must take precautionary measures to reduce our risk for an outbreak in Hawaii,” said Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler.

“There are several simple steps that we can take as a community to accomplish this, such as getting rid of standing water around our homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites and using repellant or protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites. It is crucial that we keep these practices top-of-mind as we prepare for travel in and out of the state, especially to areas that may be affected by Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses.”

The World Health Organization last month declared the explosive spread of Zika in the Americas to be a global emergency, due to its link to the spike in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads and the rise in a rare neurological syndrome that can cause paralysis and death. Most people who catch Zika only experience mild symptoms like fever, skin rash and muscle pain. There is currently no licensed treatment or vaccine.

So far, Zika has triggered outbreaks in 41 countries, although confirmed cases linking Zika to babies with birth defects have only been seen in Brazil and French Polynesia. Nine countries have reported a spike in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological condition that typically affects people after infections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

8 responses to “2nd case of Zika confirmed in Hawaii”

  1. justmyview371 says:

    So, wear heavy clothes that completely cover your feet. legs, arms, hands, head, face, etc. at all times.

  2. Racoon says:

    How did they know to test this person? Is everybody returning from Zika areas tested or was this patient sick? Mosquito control AND quarantine is necessary.

  3. Bothrops says:

    CDC is reporting 5 cases for Hawaii, NONE of them locally acquired http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united-states.html.

    Aedes aegypti is at present the only known effective mosquito for transmitting Zika. All the more reason to get rid of it NOW as itsa distribution is limited. Our main local mosquito Aedes albopictus (aka the tiger or tire mosquito)is everywhere on the islands. It can be infected in the lab with Zika, but it is still unknown how well it spreads Zika to people. The advice on getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed is worth following now, so that Zika can’t get established in Hawaii.

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