UPDATE @ 6:20 p.m.: Champaign County's first Zika virus case reported Tuesday involves a traveler returned to the county from Central America.
The case did not originate in the county, said Jeff Webb, Champaign Health District commissioner.
Health officials will treat areas near the patient’s home and scan the area near where the patient lives to ensure there are no potential mosquito breeding sites and to ensure the virus is not transmitted to other mosquitoes, he said.
The health district will also supply the patient with Deet — a strong insect repellent.
It’s unlikely officials in Champaign County will find a mosquito breeding ground during testing, Webb said, but officials will err on the side of caution. “This summer has been extremely dry, and so I think when we go into that area we probably will not find mosquito breeding sites,” he said.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, there have been 30 travel-related cases of Zika virus found in the state, including one that was sexually transmitted. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 1,800 travel-related cases of Zika.
Webb said Champaign Health District officials first heard about the case over the weekend and the case was confirmed Monday. The patient visited a health care provider and was tested for the virus.
“The thing we want to make sure people understand is this was a case that was acquired out of the country and didn’t originate locally,” Webb said.
The primary mosquito that carries the virus, known as the yellow fever mosquito, is found in the tropics and southern U.S., but is not known to be established in Ohio.
Officials in Clark and Champaign counties are trapping mosquitoes in various locations, trying to determine if the primary mosquito that transmits the virus is in the region. So far, that species has not been found in the region, local officials said.
The virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites and there is no indication it can be spread from person to person through casual contact, according to the health district. It can be spread through sexual transmission, so couples are encouraged to take steps to prevent spreading the virus by using a condom. The virus can cause the birth defect microcephaly, characterized by an abnormally small head and brain.
“There is no vaccine available for Zika virus at this time, so it’s important for Ohioans traveling to Zika-affected countries to take steps to prevent mosquito bites, especially pregnant women,” Webb said.
As much as 80 percent of those infected show no symptoms, which are often mild and last from several days to a week.
Some Clark County residents have been tested for the virus, but so far has not seen a confirmed case, said Charles Patterson, Clark County Combined Health District commissioner.
He said tt’s inevitable the virus will eventually make its way to Clark County.
“When we do get that case, we’ll pull out all the stops and make sure we stop it right there,” he said.
The Clark County Combined Health District has a plan if that were to happen, said Larry Shaffer, CCCHD environmental health director.
Health departments across Ohio will each receive a portion of $1 million in federal funding.
In all, the CDC awarded about $60 million in its latest round of funding to states, cities and territories to support efforts to protect Americans from the virus.
Staff Writer Allison Wichie contributed to this report.
UPDATE @ 5:42 p.m.: A case of a person infected with the Zika virus has been reported in Champaign County.
Champaign County Health District officials said they have a reported case of a local person who was infected with the mosquito-borne illness during international travels, health Commissioner Jeff Webb said.
Local health officials stressed the Zika case did not originate locally, but that tests will be done to ensure no mosquito breeding sites for the insect that transmits the disease are found in the Champaign County area.
FIRST REPORT
Champaign County has a Zika case from a case out of the country.
Did not originate locally but health department will do an environmental scan to ensure no mosquito breeding sites.
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