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A case of Zika virus has been confirmed in San Mateo County, county health officials announced on Friday, April 1.
The person confirmed to have tested positive for the Zika virus had been traveling abroad and is now fully recovered, the San Mateo County Health System said in its announcement. “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,” the statement said.
The California Department of Public Health has confirmed the positive test for the virus.
The statement said that to protect the privacy of the patient, no further identifying details would be released. However, a spokesperson for the county health system said the person did not live in Menlo Park.
“There is no reason for the general public to be concerned that they are at risk for getting Zika in San Mateo County at this time,” said San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow. He said the Zika virus is not circulating in San Mateo County, and, so far, the confirmed cases in California were all contracted abroad.
“Taking precautions when traveling, based on CDC guidelines, is the best means of protection from Zika,” Dr. Morrow said.
The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The Aedes aegypti mosquito was reported to be found in Menlo Park in the past.
The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District “has been working to eradicate these mosquitoes since first detecting them, and has been successful in their efforts — keeping the Aedes population very small and preventing their spread beyond Menlo Park,” the health system statement said.
Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes biting someone with an active Zika virus infection and then biting another person. There are currently no confirmed mosquito transmissions in the United States, it said.
The Aedes mosquitoes usually lives in tropical countries, including American Samoa, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The Aedes aegypti mosquito has white markings on its legs and upper thorax.