Officials with the Dallas County Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday a third positive test result for Zika virus.
DCHHS performed the preliminary test and will refer the specimen for additional testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The counties two previous confirmed cases of Zika virus involved a person who contracted the virus after having intercourse with another person who recently traveled to Venezuela. Neither of the patients were pregnant and both people have fully recovered.
The county's third patient, a 45-year-old person who is not pregnant, is a resident of Dallas who recently traveled to Honduras.
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"Upon returning to Dallas County, the patient was diagnosed with possible compatible symptoms that have resolved. For medical confidentiality and personal privacy reasons, DCHHS does not provide additional identifying information," county health officials said.
While sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, it is primarily transmitted to people by Aedes species mosquitoes.
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The most common symptoms of Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting several days to a week.
The virus can have far more harmful effects on women who are infected while pregnant. Zika has led to reports of microcephaly in infants ad other "poor pregnancy outcomes," according to the CDC.
DCHHS advises individuals with symptoms to see a healthcare provider if they visited an area where Zika virus is present or had sexual contact with a person who traveled to an area where Zika virus is present.
There is no specific medication available to treat Zika virus and there is not a vaccine. The best way to avoid Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites and sexual contact with a person who has Zika virus.
- Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
- DEET: Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
- Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.
It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites.
