Government & Politics
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State Announces First Case of CT Resident Getting Zika in Continental U.S.

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The State Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that the first case of Zika virus in Connecticut acquired in the continental United States. The patient had recently traveled to Florida. At this time, DPH reminds residents, particularly pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant, to avoid travel to regions that have been affected by Zika virus. Travelers to these areas should protect themselves from the virus by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites. When traveling to areas where Zika virus or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.

Government & Politics
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Zika Virus: What Should Concern You — and What Shouldn’t

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If you’re a woman or a couple trying to get pregnant, you should avoid visiting the Caribbean, Latin America and perhaps some other tropical places for a while, and there are a few other things you could do to avoid the Zika virus. And if you’re a woman who has a chance of becoming pregnant, avoid having sex with men who have been to those areas in the previous six months or so, advise two Darien Health Department officials who recently lent their expertise to the public in a presentation at Darien Library. (You can see a video of the discussion here and at the bottom of this article.)

For a woman who’s been to the Caribbean, Latin America or Tropics, wait a month before having sex with the possibility of getting pregnant, advised Dr. Caleb Moore, a physician in Stamford who is also the Health Department’s medical advisor. The reason this time period is shorter than for men: The virus, even if a woman does have it, doesn’t stay in women longer than that. But it can stay in different types of bodily fluids for different periods of time, and it might stay as long as six months in sperm, Moore said.

Zika
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Public Presentation about Zika by Darien Health Department

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Reports of travel-associated Zika virus disease cases continue to increase across mainland US. Most days, you can’t turn on the news without hearing about this mosquito-borne disease. In an effort to answer questions and provide up to the minute information to the public, the Darien Library will sponsor a “Zika Virus Public Forum” beginning at 7 p.m. on March 31 featuring presentations by David Knauf, Darien director of health, and Caleb Moore, MD, the Health Department’s medical advisor. David Knauf and Caleb Moore have been serving the town in their current capacities since 2008. The mission of the Health Department is to prevent disease by promoting a safe community and healthy environment to all residents and visitors, while upholding public health based regulations which protect the quality of life.