Montgomery County reports first case of Zika virus

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Montgomery County health officials have confirmed the county's first case of the Zika virus.

In an announcement made Tuesday morning, officials said the patient was a 55-year-old woman who had traveled outside the United States to an area where Zika has been found.

This is the sixth Zika case in Pennsylvania, according to state officials.

In a statement, Montco officials reminded residents that Zika symptoms are generally mild and symptoms last less than a week.

The concern is for woman who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. The virus has been linked to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes.

The Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito.

"The CDC, the state health department and our county health department are fully prepared for cases of Zika virus, which is important to note, cannot be transmitted through casual contact. We want to strongly encourage our residents to focus on mosquito bite prevention, if they travel to countries that are affected by the ongoing outbreak," said Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh, who is also a physician and is interim medical director of the Montgomery County Health Department.

Common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), lasting from several days to one week.