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1st West Virginia Zika Virus Case in Pregnant Woman Reported
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia health officials say they have confirmed the state’s first case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources made the announcement in a news release Tuesday.
State Health Officer Dr. Rahul Gupta said the woman tested positive after an international mission trip to an area where the disease is endemic.
The Bureau for Public Health is not releasing additional information to protect the patient’s privacy.
The results bring the total confirmed Zika virus cases in West Virginia to eight. All of them were contracted by travel to countries where the virus is active.
Officials are monitoring the pregnancy due to the increased risk of birth defects, including microcephaly.