Press Releases

Following the news of the of the first confirmed case of the Zika virus in the territory, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett released the following statement:

“Our office has been closely monitoring the latest developments of the Zika virus in the Caribbean region and in the territory. In order to protect themselves from contracting the virus, we urge the public to take every precaution to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and against spreading the virus. We are particularly concerned about the health of pregnant women, as the virus has been reportedly linked to a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with the virus while pregnant. While there is a travel notice issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we want to assure travelers that it is safe to travel to the territory. The CDC’s recommendations are in the abundance of caution. I would urge travelers and local residents to follow the guidelines of the CDC and the Virgin Islands Department of Health. Local residents experiencing any of the symptoms should immediately contact their primary care provider or the Virgin Islands Department of Health.”

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of Zika virus include:

• Fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes)
• Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache.
• The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.
• Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
• Deaths are rare.

For more information on the Zika virus, visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/

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