The first person in Davidson County has tested positive for the Zika virus, according to health officials.
Officials with the Metro Nashville Public Health Department said the person had recently returned to Nashville after traveling to Honduras, and is expected to recover from the illness.
They said they received confirmation from the Tennessee Department of Health on Tuesday.
“Even though mosquitoes are not spreading Zika here, we know West Nile virus has been an issue for more than a decade and should be a reminder for everyone to routinely take steps to protect against biting mosquitoes and prevent mosquito breeding areas by removing standing water,” Bill Paul, M.D., Director of Health of Nashville/Davidson County said.
Health department officials said they will be visiting the Otter Creek area, where the person lives, to distribute flyers to residents.
According to the CDC, the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected.
There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for it, officials said.
Eighty percent of those infected don't show any symptoms, while approximately 20 percent show only mild symptoms.
The list of affected areas where Zika disease is transmitted includes many countries in the Caribbean and South and Central America. To see the most current list, go to www.cdc.gov/zika/.
