For now, state does not plan to test for Zika virus in mosquitoes

A mosquito-borne virus whose most serious effects are felt by pregnant women, causing abnormally small heads in babies, could migrate to the United States, according to the World Health Organization, an agency within the United Nations.

It’s called the Zika virus. It has infected some U.S. citizens who traveled to countries with the virus, but it has not yet been found in mosquitoes in the U.S.

Thus far, Zika has been found in Mexico, most of Central America, most of South America, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. On Tuesday, the United States issued travel advisories for the Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic also.

Charles Hunt, state epidemiologist for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the state forwarded Zika recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to medical providers but that the state is not doing anything else for now.

No cases have been reported in Kansas, but Hunt said the state received a few calls from physicians who had questions about the virus or wanted more information about testing.

He said the state does not test for Zika, so tests from Kansas patients would go to a lab run by the CDC.

The state tests mosquitoes caught in traps between May and October for viruses, but not for Zika. The tests are mostly geared toward West Nile virus, and Hunt said the state does not plan to expand it to include Zika.

“It depends on what happens,” he said. “If Zika were to get established in the U.S., we would consider over time.”

Adrienne Byrne-Lutz, director of the Sedgwick County Health Department, said the department tallies diseases – such as Zika – reported within the county. But she said the county health department also does not plan to change its processes for now.

There’s currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika.

Symptoms include rashes, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and headaches, according to the CDC.

In healthy adults, symptoms are usually mild and last up to a week. But for pregnant women, the small head deformation in babies can lead to developmental issues and sometimes death.

The CDC discourages pregnant women, or women considering pregnancy, from traveling to countries with the Zika virus. The center also recommends physicians screen pregnant women who visited countries known to have the virus.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "For now, state does not plan to test for Zika virus in mosquitoes."