Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can make humans sick.
How can I get Zika virus?
Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes infected with Zika virus are currently found in areas of Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and most recently, South and Central America and Mexico. Zika may also be transmitted between partners of any gender during sex, and from a mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy.
What are the signs and symptoms of Zika virus?
Zika virus causes symptoms similar to dengue and chikungunya infection. The resulting illness is usually mild and consists of fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, and headache. Rarely, Zika infections can cause serious complications in otherwise healthy adults.
Zika infections during pregnancy are associated with serious birth defects.
Is there Zika virus in San Mateo County?
No, Zika virus is not currently transmitted in San Mateo County.
How can I protect myself and my family?
The CDC provides updated travel advisories concerning Zika virus and other mosquito-borne infections. The most recent advisory can be found at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
Join California in the Fight Against Zika - Don’t Bring Zika Home.
The Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and through unprotected sex with someone who is infected. Zika virus can also spread from an infected pregnant woman to her developing baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. At this time, no one has been infected with Zika from mosquitoes in California. You are at risk if you or your sexual partner travel to areas with Zika, including Mexico.
Zika virus has been in the news often recently, and District staff members have received many questions from the family, friends, members of the public, and the media. Here are a few of the most common questions, and their answers:
San Mateo County Health System today received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a San Mateo County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual was infected with Zika virus while traveling abroad and is now fully recovered. No transmission of the disease took place in the United States, and there was no risk of the virus spreading to the local community from this case. To protect patient privacy, San Mateo County is not releasing further details about the confirmed Zika case.
