Officials with the Erie County Health Department confirm a resident has tested positive for the Zika Virus.
Officials say the person is a woman who recently traveled to El Salvador within the past 2-3 weeks.
The woman is being treated for the virus, and there's no threat to public health. The health department says she's now healthy but suffered from Zika-like symptoms which include muscle and joint pain, fever and rash.
Dr. Gale Burstein the Erie County Health Commissioner says the state is ramping up measures to help people who've recently traveled.
"New York State is trying to be aggressive about surveillance of the Zika virus," said Burstein. "They are offering free testing from the public health lab in Albany for all people, men and women, who develop symptoms typical for the Zika virus who have traveled to an area where there is local Zika virus."
Burstein says symptoms associated with the virus typically last about a week.
Avoid #ZikaVirus if traveling by covering your skin and sleeping in a covered or air-conditioned space @WKBW
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) February 15, 2016
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) right now the virus is in Cape Verde, The Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Central America and Pacific Islands.
If you're traveling to any of those tropical locations soon the CDC recommends using EPA registered bug spray. Spray should contain 20 percent or more of DEET and other recommended ingredients.
Those sprays include brands like Off!, Cutter, Sawyer and Ultrathon @WKBW #ZikaVirus
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) February 15, 2016
To find the right bug spray click here.
This is the first confirmed case of Zika Virus in Western New York. If you're looking for more information on the Zika virus visit the CDC's website.
