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[Mark]

Zika Virus Arrives in South Texas

 Texas reported its first home-grown case of Zika virus infection Monday — making it the second U.S. state with mosquitoes spreading the virus.

It's a long-feared development but not a surprising one. Like Florida, South Texas is home to the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread Zika and also hosts many travelers to and from countries where the virus has been spreading.

"The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors," the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement.

"Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient's urine, but a blood test was negative, indicating that the virus can no longer be spread from her by a mosquito. There are no other cases of suspected local transmission at this time, but health officials continue to conduct disease surveillance activities as part of the state's ongoing Zika response."

 Zika has spread far and wide across Central and South America and the Caribbean. Florida has reported more than 200 locally acquired cases.

It causes a mild infection in most people but can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman gets it.

"We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas," Texas State Health Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt said in a statement.

"We still don't believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter."

rest: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/zika-virus-arrives-south-texas-n689226