The Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division has confirmed that a person in Oregon has been diagnosed with a travel-associated Zika virus infection. The adult woman contracted the virus in an affected country outside the United States and has recovered. There is no danger to the public.

This is the first laboratory-confirmed case of Zika in Oregon in 2016. Before this, three Oregonians have had travel-associated Zika confirmed since 2014. Oregon is first of Idaho’s neighboring states to report a Zika case this year. 

Zika is spread by certain types of mosquitoes that bite an infected person, then bite an uninfected person. Sexual transmission of the disease also has been reported, though this appears to be rare. Zika symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and redness of the eyes. Serious illness requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

However, Zika may endanger pregnancies, so women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should be particularly careful to avoid the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus is spreading. If travel to one of these areas is unavoidable, pregnant women should talk to their healthcare providers before the trip and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip.