Ventura County Confirms First Case of Zika Virus

The Ventura County Public Health Department confirmed the county’s first case of Zika Virus on Friday.

Health officials did not say what city the case was found in and did not identify the patient. However, they said a woman was diagnosed with the Zika Virus and is not suspected of being pregnant.

“We will continue to monitor her progress but her symptoms, as with most people who contract Zika Virus, are mild and she did not require hospitalization,” said Robert Levin, a health officer with the Ventura County Public Health Department.

There are now 171 confirmed Zika Virus cases in the state of California.

While the mosquito carrying the virus is not believed to exist in Ventura County, Public Health officials say the Zika Virus can still be transmitted through sex from a partner infected with the virus. This includes the sharing of sex toys, vaginal, oral and anal sex, according to the Health Department.

“Zika can be passed even if the person does not have symptoms at the time; it can be passed before symptoms start, while the person is symptomatic, and after symptoms end. The virus may also be passed by a person who becomes infected but never develops symptoms,” said the Ventura County Public Health Department in a statement.

Residents are advised to protect themselves from mosquito bites and other viral diseases. The Ventura County Public Health Department suggests doing the following:

Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picardian, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535. Insect repellents should not be used on children under two months old.
Wear protective clothing and repellent if outside during early morning and evening. These are typically the times when mosquitoes come out to feed.
Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property by emptying flower pots, old car tires, buckets, and other containers. Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water.
If you know of a swimming pool that is not properly maintained, contact the County Mosquito and Vector Control Agency in the Environmental Department.