The mosquito-borne Zika virus has now been found in 19 people in Puerto Rico, although none were pregnant women, the group most at risk, the island’s health secretary said.
The virus has been linked to a surge in births of babies with abnormally small heads, and pregnant women have been advised not to travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries because of the virus.
“An infected person must have come, who infected a population of mosquitoes, which in turn infected a local population, permitting the spread of the disease,” Puerto Rico’s Health Secretary Ana Rius said.
She reported that 18 new cases of the Zika virus have been detected in the US possession, raising the total to 19 since the Caribbean island’s first case was confirmed last month.
So far the virus has not been detected in the continental United States. However, a number of residents have contracted it while travelling and officials are concerned that it could spread if they are bitten by mosquitoes after returning home.
Arkansas became the latest state to raise concerns Tuesday after tests showed a resident had contracted a mild case of Zika while abroad.
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