Pa. Health Dept.: 2 Woman Test Positive For Zika Virus
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - Health officials are confirming the first cases of the Zika virus in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Health Department says two women have tested positive.
At least one of the cases is reportedly near Philadelphia. State officials say in all, 21 people in Pennsylvania have been tested for the virus.
In the meantime, the Allegheny County Health Department says they have tested four people and are still waiting for the results to come in.
They were tested because they traveled abroad to areas where they could have been exposed to the mosquito-borne virus.
"I can tell you they were very, very mild cases - fever, rash, and did not have any complications," said Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy. "It's a very short-living… it's a very short period where the patients usually have symptoms and they most generally are very mild."
Dr. Murphy said officials are concerned about the health of those individuals and others who may be exposed, but the want to emphasize that the two cases "pose no threat to the public."
Symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, a rash and achy joints.
Most people recover in about a week, but doctors believe the virus puts pregnant women at serious risks for birth defects.
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