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Michigan has its first confirmed case of Zika virus

Sanofi Pasteur
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Michigan health officials say they've confirmed the state's first case of the Zika virus.

An Ingham County woman experienced Zika-like symptoms after traveling to Barbados. 

The state sent her tests to the CDC a couple weeks ago, which confirmed Zika today.

The woman is not pregnant. And she’s already recovered from what was just a mild illness, says Ingham County health officer Linda Vail.

The state says the kind of mosquitoes that spread Zika are not found in Michigan. 

Vail says we'll probably see a few more cases of Zika in Michigan as people travel to countries affected by the virus. 

"Right now, CDC guidelines recommend that any pregnant woman who has traveled to an affected country should just plain and simple be tested,” she says. 

You can find out more about the CDC's recommendations for travelers here.  

Kate Wells is a Peabody Award-winning journalist currently covering public health. She was a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her abortion coverage.
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