Zika mystery widens as Utah caregiver contracts virus

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Mon Jul 18, 2016 4:45pm EDT

Zika mystery widens as Utah caregiver contracts virus

CHICAGO | BY JULIE STEENHUYSEN

U.S. health officials are investigating the mysterious case of a person in Utah who contracted Zika while caring for an elderly man infected with the virus who died last month.

Federal and state health officials said on Monday it is not clear how the individual contracted Zika, a virus that is most typically transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and occasionally through sex with an infected person.

The person had not traveled to an area with active Zika transmission nor had sex with a person who had recently returned from such a place. Health officials say they are not aware of any mosquitoes in Utah that are capable of transmitting the virus.

“The new case in Utah is a surprise, showing that we still have more to learn about Zika,” said Dr. Erin Staples, CDC's medical epidemiologist who is in Utah leading an investigation into how the infection occurred.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-infection-idUSKCN0ZY22S

[Warpy]

1. It's either another vector

or it's a likely blood and body fluid transmission on the model of Hepatitis B and to a lesser extent, HIV. It's turning out to be a very nasty little virus.

At least if you're not pregnant, you're likely to get over Zika with few aftereffects.