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The first Zika virus case has been identified in Summit County.
(James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
AKRON, Ohio - A Summit County resident has tested positive for the Zika virus after traveling to a Zika-infected country, the Summit County Public Health department said Thursday.
Zika is a rapidly spreading, mosquito-borne virus that is linked to severe birth defects, including microcephaly, or small heads, in infants born to women with Zika.
As of April 6, 346 travel-associated Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first reported Zika case in Ohio was identified in Cuyahoga County in February.
Because of birth defects, the CDC recommends pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant postpone travel to Central America, the Caribbean and South America.
The Zika patient in Summit was not pregnant, the Summit County agency said. The person, who was not identified, did not require hospitalization and is symptom-free.
"This local case is not a threat to the public health of Summit County residents," medical director Dr. Marguerite Erme said in a release.
The primary mosquito that carries Zika -- the Aedes aegypti -- has not been seen in Summit County based on mosquito surveillance, said Summit Environmental Health Director, Bob Hasenyager.
Symptoms are usually mild and appear two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms include fever, joint pain, rash or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache.
About 80 percent of infected individuals have no symptoms, the Summit County agency said.
Zika in rare cases has also been transmitted sexually from male to female, the health agency said.