HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department said Wednesday it has received confirmation one person has tested positive for Zika.
According to a release sent to WKRN News 2, the individual recently returned from an affected country where Zika is being transmitted by mosquitoes.
“We have expected that a travel-related case would occur within our county and we anticipate there will be more such cases,” says Dr. Valerie Boaz, Health Department Medical Director, “What is of paramount importance is that we work to prevent local transmission of the Zika virus.”
In an effort to prevent local transmission, the Health Department is conducting door-to-door education in the general vicinity of the case.
There is not a vaccine to prevent Zika. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
Health officials said the Zika virus is almost always a very mild illness and approximately 80 percent of those infected never show symptoms of the disease. The other 20 percent show mild symptoms.
In addition to mosquitoes, Zika can be transmitted through sexual contact and from mother to unborn child.