Health officials in Japan are reporting a travel associated Zika virus case in a woman from Vietnam, according to a Japan Times report.
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This is the first case of 2016 and the 11th case since 2013. All cases have been travel associated.
The 40-something woman contracted the virus in Vietnam and started experiencing early symptoms (rash, headache) while still in the country. Upon arrival in Japan, her symptoms expanded to include joint pain and conjunctivitis.
She was hospitalized in Tokyo where Zika infection was confirmed. Her pregnancy status is unknown.
Upon discharge from the hospital, she plans to return home.
Local transmission of Zika has been confirmed in Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In 2014, Japan experienced an outbreak of dengue fever, an infectious disease transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits Zika.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause mild symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain, and pink eye. Zika rarely kills or causes serious disease. However, the virus presents a major threat to pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant. Zika infection during pregnancy has been linked to serious birth defects including microcephaly, which causes newborns to be born with heads smaller than normal.
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- Dengue in the Philippines: 100,000 cases and counting
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