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Zika virus reported in Indiana, Ohio

Posted at 10:25 AM, Feb 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-09 12:48:47-05

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana health officials say the state has its first case of Zika virus.

The Indiana State Department of Health announced Tuesday the person with the virus is “a non-pregnant resident” who recently traveled to Haiti.

There have been about 50 cases of the mosquito-spread virus reported in the United States, most in travelers returning from affected countries.

Many people infected do not get sick. For those who do, it is usually a mild illness with symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

The virus is primarily spread through bites from a specific mosquito. Health officials are investigating whether there is a link between Zika infections in pregnant women and a rare birth defect called microcephaly, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

Ohio has also reported a case in  Cleveland woman, who also recently returned from Haiti.  Zika has been reported in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.