Teen is 3rd in Snohomish County to test positive for Zika
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 2, 2016
EVERETT — A Snohomish County teenager who recently traveled to Nicaragua has tested positive for Zika virus, the Snohomish Health District said Tuesday.
This is the third confirmed case involving somebody who lives here. The other patients also had visited areas known to have mosquitoes infected with Zika virus.
No other details were released about the current case beyond the description that the patient is a “female in her teens” who is not pregnant.
The health district is working with her health care provider to ensure she follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which include preventing pregnancy for at least eight weeks after symptoms are noted.
The virus can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, a condition where the baby’s head is much smaller than usual. That can cause seizures and developmental delays. Federal health officials have advised pregnant women to avoid traveling to countries where the virus has been detected.
“We continue to learn more about this disease on a daily basis, leading to CDC guidelines being updated frequently,” said Nancy Furness, communicable disease director for the health district. “While it is likely that we will see more Zika cases here locally and around the region, staying informed and following simple prevention recommendations are the best courses of action for our community.”
