Confirmed Case of the Zika Virus in Dane County

A confirmed case of the Zika virus has been found in Dane County.

Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) has received notification that Zika virus infection has been confirmed in a woman residing in Dane County.

The patient, who is not pregnant, acquired the infection while traveling in Colombia where Zika infected mosquitoes are present.

During mosquito season in Dane County, approximately late May through September, PHMDC routinely monitors adult and larvae mosquitoes.

 “In over ten years of monitoring, we have not found the species of mosquitoes identified as Zika carriers in our community,” says John Hausbeck, PHMDC Environmental Health Supervisor. “We will continue to monitor this upcoming season for these specific mosquitoes, in addition to other species that transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus.”

 At this time, there is no specific medication available to treat Zika virus and there is not a vaccine. The best way to avoid Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites and to avoid unprotected sexual contact with a person who has Zika virus.