Zika virus has emerged on the Central Coast. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department confirmed on Aug. 25 that a county resident, a pregnant female, contracted Zika virus during travel to Central America.
In order to protect her privacy, the county wouldn’t release any more information on the patient. However, Dr. Charity Dean, a county health officer, said there is no risk for contracting Zika in Santa Barbara County.
The virus, which is spread mainly through the aedes aegypti species of mosquito, is suspected to cause Zika fever, a disease that’s characterized by symptoms of fever, eye redness, achy joints, and a skin rash.
The disease isn’t known to cause any deaths and appears to be relatively harmless to adults, with four of out of five infected people not displaying any symptoms, according to the county Public Health Department.
However, pregnant women and unborn fetuses are thought to be most at risk for Zika symptoms, with the disease suspected of causing birth defects such as microcephaly (small head syndrome) and brain damage.
Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact, according to the Public Health Department.
The virus has been popping up in other parts of the state. The Ventura County Public Health Department confirmed its first case of Zika on Aug. 19. As of that date, the California Department of Public Health said 170 cases of travel-related Zika virus have been detected in 26 counties, with 24 of those in pregnant women.
The aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes are not currently found in Santa Barbara County, but Dean said residents should be aware of risk factors.
“Taking precautions when traveling to areas with Zika virus, and not engaging in sexual contact with someone at risk for Zika infection, are the best ways to avoid contracting the virus,” Dean said in a press release.
This article appears in Sep 1-8, 2016.