Local Health Department is Monitoring the Spread of the Zika Virus

 Nationally, the Zika virus has raised a lot of concerns, but locals are also wondering if they should be worried.

The Zika virus has recently been discovered in the US, and while no cases of the virus have been reported locally, the Zanesville- Musingum County Health Department is monitoring the spread of the mosquito-borne disease that is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.

"Most of the cases that we’ve seen are cases of people who have traveled to the Caribbean Central America and South America. Most of these people have been exposed to the mosquitoes that have bitten them and they come back to the U.S and feel sick," said Epidemiologist, Diana Zaato.

Right now, health officials are investigating a possible association between the Zika virus infection in pregnant women and birth defects. Pregnant women are being encouraged to either cancel their flights or postpone traveling to any area where Zika virus transmission is on-going.

"Zanesville residents, really when your looking at that population if you haven’t traveled to the areas where the Zika virus is, or planning to travel to those areas, the risk here is very very minimal. It is transmitted by mosquitoes by being bitten but, there’s not been any cases reported in Ohio," said Tiffany McFee, MSN, the Assistant Director of Nurses Zanesville- Muskingum County Health Department.

Zaato said the virus can also be transmitted through sexual relations.

"We have seen our very first case in the United States that is a person who hasn’t traveled down to the Caribbean, South or Central America. However, the person had sexual relations with somebody who had been there and the person eventually came down with it. So at this point something that is still very new and they’re really looking into," said Zaato.

Some 80% of those infected with the Zika virus don’t even feel sick, and most who do have relatively mild symptoms such as a fever, rash, joint pain or pink eye. Officials said the best way to prevent Zika is to avoid regions experiencing an outbreak. If you cannot avoid traveling, you should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.