CLEVELAND – Health officials say Ohio has a second Zika virus case, involving a 21-year-old Stark County man who traveled to Haiti.
The announcement Tuesday came hours after the Ohio Department of Health reported the first case, involving a 30-year-old Cleveland woman who also visited Haiti.
“Given the number of travelers between Ohio and Zika virus-affected countries, it would not be a surprise to see more cases,” said ODH Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio. “There is no vaccine available for Zika virus so it’s important for Ohioans traveling to affected areas to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”
The department says the cases are among more than three dozen in 13 states and Washington, D.C.
So far, there have been no cases in Franklin County.
“Hopefully, we’ll prepare and nothing will happen,” Mitzi Kline, spokeswoman for Franklin County Public Health, told the Columbus Dispatch. “It’s certainly not a wasted opportunity.”
The woman’s symptoms were typical of Zika — fever, joint pain and rash, said Jana Rush, chief epidemiologist for the Cleveland Department of Health. The woman was not pregnant.
The virus primarily spreads through bites from a mosquito not typically found in Ohio. Officials plan a preparedness exercise before Ohio’s mosquito season begins in May.
Many people infected don’t get sick. Some experience mild illness with symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
Officials are investigating whether there’s a link between Zika infections in pregnant women and a rare birth defect.