Santa Maria woman tested for Zika virus

August 19, 2016

A Santa Maria woman honeymooned in Costa Rica this month and returned to the Central Coast with numerous mosquito bites and a suspected case of the Zika virus.  [KCOY]

Lab results are not expected to be ready for three weeks, but doctors reportedly said everything was pointing toward Zika.

The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes. The resulting illness usually consists of mild symptoms that last up to a week. However, the Zika infection can be passed from a pregnant woman to the fetus, and it can cause birth defects, according to health officials.

Jessica Davis married her husband on July 31. The newlyweds then took off for Costa Rica.

When they arrived in Costa Rica, they saw signs warning about the Zika virus, Davis said. Her husband and she applied mosquito repellant, but Davis was bitten by a few dozen mosquitoes. Her husband was only bitten a few times.

The mosquito bites caused rashes all over Davis’ body. The couple returned to Santa Maria on Saturday.

By Sunday, Davis had a fever, a very stiff neck, chills and a headache. The symptoms then became worse. Her fever reached 103 degrees, prompting her to go to the hospital.

Since going to the hospital, Davis says she is starting to feel better and cannot wait to go back to work. But, she say it has been hard, and she misses her friends.

Health officials warn that women who are returning from travel and who are planning to get pregnant must look at the Centers for Disease Control map to see if they have been in an area that has the Zika virus. Officials also say people who have been exposed to the virus need to get tested.