The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a case of sexually transmitted Zika virus infection in the Dallas, Texas area.
The CDC confirmed the case in a statement to CNN.com. Dallas County health officials announced the case involves a man who had sex with someone who recently returned from Venezuela.
In the statement to CNN, the CDC confirmed Zika was present in the blood of a “nontraveler in the continental United States.”
The virus is usually transmitted through mosquito bites. Zika is now considered a global epidemic of international concern.
The Zika virus causes no symptoms in 80% of those infected. But in 20% of the cases the symptoms include whole body rash, fever, headache, fatigue, chills, sweating and joint pain.
The virus is especially harmful to pregnant women.
In pregnant women, the virus crosses the placenta and attacks the unborn fetus causing brain damage, seizures and microcephaly (abnormally small brains in newborns).
Officials in El Salvador are advising women not to get pregnant.
Brazil is particularly hard hit by the virus. Nearly 4,000 children in Brazil were diagnosed with microcephaly.
The Brazilian government will give families a minimum salary per month to help provide for infants who are born with microcephaly.
Airlines in America are issuing refunds to pregnant women who booked flights to countries in central and south America, CNN reports.
