Ohio’s two newest cases of Zika virus — including a Butler County woman who traveled abroad — will not be the last, state and local health experts said Friday.
Dr. Robert Lerer, Butler County health commissioner, said as more travelers return from the infected countries, these cases will be “no news.”
Eventually, he said, returning to the U.S. with the Zika virus will be as common as the flu or diarrhea.
The Ohio Department of Health reported the state’s third and fourth cases of Zika virus in returning travelers. One was a 56-year-old Butler County woman returning from Guyana, and the second was a 60-year-old Licking County man returning from Haiti.
“Given the number of travelers between Ohio and Zika virus-affected countries, it would not be a surprise to see more cases,” ODH Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio stated. “There is no vaccine available for Zika virus, so it’s important for Ohioans traveling to affected areas to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 52 travel-associated cases of Zika virus in 16 states and the District of Columbia prior to Ohio’s new cases, an increase from 35 cases in 12 states since Tuesday.
Lerer said a group of Rotarians from Fairfield is expected to travel to Haiti, an infected country, soon.
In his 4oth year as commissioner, the longest tenure in the state, Lerer said it’s “good news” that the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes because there are no mosquitoes in Ohio right now.
Of people infected with the Zika virus, 80 percent do not have any symptoms, the CDC said.
When symptoms occur, they are often mild, lasting from several days to a week, and include fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and headache. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
Zika virus is primarily transmitted through a mosquito bite, and there is no indication that it can spread from person to person through casual contact.
CDC has confirmed a U.S. case of Zika virus infection in a non-traveler after the person’s sexual partner returned from an affected country and developed symptoms.
Due to the possible association between Zika virus infections in pregnant women and certain birth defects, CDC recommends that pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant consider postponing travel to areas with Zika virus transmission.
Brazil’s health minister said Friday that authorities were “absolutely sure” that the Zika virus is connected to devastating birth defects and rejected criticism that the government was slow to investigate the surge of cases that set off international alarms.
Marcelo Castro made the remarks during an interview with The Associated Press in Brazil’s capital. He spoke a day before tens of thousands of soldiers and health inspectors were to take to the streets in an unprecedented drive to encourage residents to be vigilant for mosquito breeding sites. The goal: visit 3 million homes in more than 350 cities.
The U.S. Olympic Committee will hire two infectious disease specialists to advise potential Olympians who are worried about the Zika outbreak in Brazil.
USOC CEO Scott Blackmun sent a letter this week to all possible Olympians, acknowledging the growing worries over the virus.
“I know that the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil is of concern to many of you,” Blackmun wrote. “I want to emphasize that it is to us, as well, and that your well-being in Rio this summer is our highest priority.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
