The first case of the Zika virus has been confirmed in Alabama. Officials in Alabama said the person had recently traveled to a country affected by the virus and returned infected. The individual, who has not been identified, is a resident of Morgan County in the Tennessee Valley and is said to be ‘fine’. Four other people have been tested and are awaiting results, while another person, who had returned from Latin American country, came back negative.
‘The person is fine,’ Dr Jim McVay, from the Alabama Department of Public Health, told Al.com. Dr Tom Miller, acting state health officer, said he expected more cases to be identified in Alabama. ‘We knew it was only a matter of time before we would have the first positive case of an individual in Alabama with Zika virus,’ he said. ‘Given the frequency of international travel to affected areas, we anticipate having additional positive cases. We are working with the medical community to identify high-risk individuals.’ The Zika virus is now believed to have spread to 20 states, as well as Washington, DC. READ MORE
