First “zika” case reported this week in Dominican Republic

Puerto Plata, DR.– A 12-year-old girl from Puerto Plata is the first person to contract the "zika" virus in the Dominican Republic, El Nuevo Diario reported this week.

According to the outlet, the patient is currently hospitalized in a private clinic in the northern city, but no further information on her condition has been revealed.

A month ago the Brazilian media reported on a number of zika virus infections in Bahia state and other places, while the Epidemiological Surveillance Department of Roraima, Brazil confirmed a 22-year-old man had contracted the mosquito-borne viral infection.

The zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (A. aegypti). Some of these species bite during the day as well as in the late afternoon or evening. The main clinical symptoms in patients are fever, conjunctivitis, transient arthritis/arthralgia and maculo-papular rash. In general the disease symptoms are mild and short-lasting (2-7 days).