Dominicans sigh in relief as tests for zika virus result negative

Santo Domingo.- PublicHealth Minister Altagracia Guzman on Tuesday said results tests conducted in PuertoRico on five people suspected of contracting zika virus came back negative.

The unidentified patientslive in different Greater Santo Domingo neighborhoods, the official said.

Zika´s first outbreak inthe Americas took place in 2015 in Brazil, where specialists investigate the virus´possible link to birth defects.

Puerto Rico reportedits first zika case December 31, and in late 2014 in Central America.

The zika symptoms, froma virus transmitted by a mosquito include fever, no purulent conjunctivitis,headache, joint pain and inflammation in various parts of the body, and vomiting,diarrhea, or abdominal pain appearing less frequently.

There is no specifictreatment for the disease whose symptoms last 4 to 7 days.