For Immediate Release: March 10, 2016

Contact: HCA Communications (714) 834-2178

First Zika Case Confirmed in Orange County Resident

(Santa Ana) – Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that an Orange County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual, a Costa Mesa resident, is a male in his 40s who contracted the virus in late January during travel to Central America and presented symptoms in early February. He was not seriously ill and has recovered. The Health Care Agency has contacted the individual to provide counseling to prevent transmission.

Zika is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus. Most infected people have no symptoms; for the minority that do, symptoms typically include fever, rash, joint pain and/or red eyes. The greatest concern is related to the possible association between Zika infection in pregnant women and microcephaly (abnormally small head and brain) in newborns.

While local transmission has not occurred in the United States, the invasive Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit Zika virus are present in Orange County. The Health Care Agency continues to partner with Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District to work to prevent local transmission.

“There is no vaccine to protect against Zika infection,” said Dr. Matthew Zahn, Director of Disease Control and Epidemiology. “People who travel to areas with active transmission of Zika must take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.”

Precautions include:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Products with one of the following active ingredients can help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection.
  • DEET
  • Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin. Products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan [outside the US])
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (Products containing OLE include Repel and Off! Botanicals)
  • IR3535 (Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart)
  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items.
• Make sure that the hotel or lodging has air conditioning or doors and windows with tight-fitting screens.

To learn more about Zika virus, please visit http://ochealthinfo.com/zika. For information on Aedes mosquitoes, please visit the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s website at http://www.ocvcd.org/InvasiveMosquitoes.php.

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