BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland health officials say 31 people in the state have been infected with the Zika virus.
Health officials tell The Baltimore Sun (http://tinyurl.com/z8374lm) that all the cases were travel-related and no one has contracted Zika from being bitten by a mosquito in the state. However, if a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites someone else, the disease can spread.
Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van Mitchell says in a statement that the department is trying to prevent such occurrences.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced Friday that it’s awarding the state $366,000 for Zika prevention.
The virus can also be transmitted sexually, and it can cause serious birth defects if pregnant women become infected. Most people who contract it suffer only mild symptoms.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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