COLUMBUS – Officials with the Columbus Department of Public Health have reportedly confirmed that seven returning travelers have been tested for the Zika virus.
The board says four of those potential cases are in Columbus, according to a report on WBNS 10-TV.
The seven individuals had returned to the United States with symptoms related to several different illnesses, including the Zika virus.
Doctors said the biggest concern about the virus is its possible link to birth defects. (Map shows area where Zika virus is most prevalent)
Microcephily is associated with incomplete brain development and presents as an abnormal smallness of the head. Because of this, the Columbus health department is primarily concerned about women in the group of seven being tested.
“If [the seven travlers are] pregnant, we’d want to know the results of that test so that we’d know what’s next for their pregnancy,” Dr. Mysheika Roberts of the Columbus Health Department explained.
Doctors at the Columbus Health Department recommend testing if you have traveled to any affected area and are showing symptoms like fever, chills, rash or conjunctivitis.
They also said pregnant women who’ve traveled to those regions should be tested, symptoms or not.
The tests for the seven people have been sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Results are not expected to be returned for a couple weeks.