The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed Tuesday that the first case of the Zika virus has been reported in East Tennessee. Health officials said the person recently traveled to South America before returning to Tennessee. “We have been expected an imported case of Zika virus disease and we believe more infections are likely as people travel to and from areas where the disease is currently being transmitted,” said Dr. John Dreyzehner, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner, in a release.
Affected areas include many countries in the Caribbean and South and Central America. Officials said Zika virus is almost always a mild illness. Testing is not necessary for most people. In pregnant women, there have been increased cases of microcephaly associated with the Zika virus. Microcephaly is a condition where the child’s head is smaller than normal and may lead to the child experiencing other health problems. READ MORE
