The mosquito-borne Zika virus has officially made its way to U.S. soil. A U.S. Congressman reported on Thursday that the first case of the virus has been confirmed in Puerto Rico. Brazilian authorities have linked the virus to microcephaly, a congenital birth defect.
Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, Pedro Pierluisi, said in a statement that he and his office have contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The government center later confirmed the Zika-positive case.
"There is no reason for alarm, and the public should take common sense steps to avoid mosquito bites, like using repellent and wearing long pants and shirts," Pierluisi said, according to Reuters.
Confirmed cases of Zika have occurred in countries throughout Central and South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Paraguay, Guatemala and Colombia.
Individuals who contract the disease experience a fever, rash, headaches and non-purulent conjunctivitis. Symptoms will occur three to 12 days after the mosquito bite and last for up to a week, according to the World Health Organization.
While the symptoms are mild, the Brazil International Health Regulations has linked the virus to microcephaly, a congenital birth defect that produces abnormal smallness of the head and is associated with improper brain development.
The country of Brazil has seen at least 2,782 confirmed cases this year. The country's health officials have warned potential mothers living in affected areas to temporarily reconsider having a child.
"If [a potential mother] can wait, then she should," said Claudio Maierovitch, director of the Department of Surveillance of Communicable Diseases Claudio Maierovitch, according to the New York Times.
Zika was first identified in Uganda by scientists in 1947. While it is common throughout large areas of Africa and Asia, no cases had been reported in the Western Hemisphere until last year. In 2007, a major Zika epidemic occurred on Yap Island, Micronesia.
