State Health Officials Report Maryland's First Confirmed Case Of Zika

State health officials have confirmed Maryland's first case of the Zika virus.

The infection was confirmed via a blood test. The infected person had recently traveled to a country where Zika transmission remains active. No further information was provided about the infected person.

The mosquito-borne virus has led to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue travel warnings for women who are or may be pregnant. The virus has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly.

“Our department will continue to actively partner with the CDC, Maryland healthcare providers, laboratories, and health departments to provide support to Marylanders at risk of Zika infection – especially to pregnant women,” Van T. Mitchell, secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “As CDC guidance has evolved, we actually have expanded access to testing for people who had not met that agency's initial testing criteria.”

State health officials are working with the CDC and distributing guidance to Maryland hospitals. The department is facilitating testing of people, especially pregnant women who have traveled to Zika-prone areas. Zika is active in areas including Brazil, Latin America and parts of the Caribbean, according to the CDC.

The disease is asymptomatic much of the time. State officials say a lab will be ready to test for Zika within the next week. For now, samples are being sent to the CDC for analysis.

The mosquitoes that can carry the virus are not typically found in Maryland. Person-to-person transmissions have been reported via blood transfusion and sexual contact. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Zika or medicine to treat it.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who incidentally was at a hearing today about President Barack Obama's request for $1.8 billion to fight Zika, said in a statement she's "deeply concerned" about the spread of the virus.

"I have three principles for the federal government’s response to Zika," Mikulski said. "First, the response must be driven by science and not panic. Second, Zika must be fought at its epicenter, which is the best way to limit its spread here. Finally, the development of a vaccine and treatments must be a top priority. I will be evaluating the President’s supplemental funding request to ensure that it both meets the criteria for emergency spending and provides the resources necessary to stop the spread of this virus."