Zika's moved from South America to Central America and the Caribbean, and now it's in the U.S. The first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus has been reported in southern Florida.
The virus is transmitted by mosquito, and a small number of cases are sexually transmitted.
North Carolina does have mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika (the Asian tiger species), but Wake Forest Baptist infectious disease expert Dr. Christopher Ohl says right now, it's not a major concern.
“We don't anticipate widespread transmission in the U.S., but if a pocket pops up in an area, then we'll have further instructions for what people do. But by far and away, it's not as serious of a concern as ebola was or something along those lines.”
Ohl suggests taking the standard precaution for mosquito control by emptying areas of standing water, and says travelers to Zika-infected areas should wear long sleeves and pants and a good repellent.
Currently there are no locally-transmitted cases of Zika in North Carolina.
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