Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Zika (Zika Virus Infection) is spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito or from sexual contact with an individual who is infected with Zika virus.
Anyone can be infected with Zika virus; however pregnant women or women who are considering getting pregnant are of particular concern due to the link between Zika virus infection and poor pregnancy outcomes. MORE
The most common symptoms of Zika virus are:
Symptoms typically appear within three to 14 days of infection. About one in five people infected with Zika virus become ill. Anyone who has traveled to an area with active, mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus and develops symptoms of Zika virus should contact their healthcare provider.
Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites or from sexual contact with an individual who is infected with Zika virus. The species of mosquito that carries Zika virus is not known to be established in Rhode Island at any time of the year. In Rhode Island, Zika virus is considered to be travel-acquired. This means that confirmed cases will be because that person contracted the virus in another area and then returned to Rhode Island. Check CDC's website for a regularly-updated list of affected areas.
The Rhode Island State Health Laboratories can perform the Trioplex rRT-PCR and Zika MAC-ELISA laboratory tests to diagnose Zika virus infection in patients approved for testing by the Department of Health Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria.
Per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization, medical providers and patients are to be provided with factsheets for understanding this test.
No vaccine or medications are available to prevent or treat Zika virus infection.