First confirmed case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman reported in W.Va.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The first confirmed case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman has been reported in West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

“The woman was confirmed to be positive for Zika virus following an international mission trip to an area where the disease is endemic,” said State Health Officer and Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health Dr. Rahul Gupta. “The pregnancy will now be monitored by the Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health through the U.S. Zika Pregnancy registry due to the increased risk of microcephaly and other potential birth defects.”

The mother traveled abroad about two months ago and tested positive a little more than a week ago. Dr. Gupta tells WSAZ the mother has recovered and is expected to be OK.

No other information will be released about this case to protect the privacy of the patient.

This latest case brings the total number of confirmed Zika virus cases in the state to eight. All of the cases were contracted by travel to countries where the virus is active, according to the release.

Dr. Gupta says since March, 36 people have been tested. They're still waiting on the results for three of them.

“During pregnancy, the Zika virus may be passed from the mother to her fetus,” said Gupta. “It is very important to remember to take mosquito bite precautions if traveling to areas where Zika virus transmission is occurring.”

The CDC has issued guidelines as a precaution following a visit to countries where the Zika virus is endemic. According to the guidelines, women who want to become pregnant following a visit to these countries are encouraged to wait a minimum of eight weeks, while men should consider using a condom from eight weeks to six months.

According to the release, there has been no reports of local mosquito transmission of the disease in the United States.

Since Huntington resident Caymie Perkins first learned about Zika a few months ago, she's been taking extra precautions to dodge mosquitoes.

"I went camping last weekend and used two kinds of bug spray," she said.

She was startled Tuesday to learn of the first case of a pregnant woman in West Virginia testing positive for the disease.

"Now that there's a case close to home right here where we live, it could happen to anybody," she said, "so that makes me extra scared and wanting to take more precautions than I already have."

For more information, click the related link with this story.