A Frisco woman contracted the Zika virus while traveling outside of the United States, according to Collin County Health Care Services. The woman is not pregnant.
City health inspectors did not find any signs of mosquito activity or potential breeding sites when they visited the woman's home.
No local mosquito-borne Zika virus cases have been reported within the United States, but there have been several travel-related cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas has confirmed 18 cases of Zika virus disease, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The virus is spread mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the CDC. The most common symptoms include rash, fever, red eyes and joint pain. Most symptoms are mild enough that many people may not know they have been infected.
In pregnant women, the virus can cause a severe birth defect called microcephaly, according to the CDC.
"Experts tell us mosquitos carrying the Zika virus are predominantly ‘day biters,' which differs from mosquitos carrying West Nile virus," Environmental Health Supervisor Julie Stallcup said in a news release. "To fight any bites, we need to make applying insect repellants part of our daily routine.”
The TDSHS also recommends the following steps to prevent mosquito bites:
- Wear insect repellent
- Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Keep mosquitoes out with air conditioning or intact window screens
- Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito times