MILWAUKEE- The Department of Health confirms the first case of Zika in Wisconsin. The virus is linked to neurological defects in newborns and that's why pregnant women in the area are worried the infection is getting too close to home.
"Concerned, just because mosquitoes travel," said Jeannie Marincic, expecting mother.
Officials say the Wisconsin resident who acquired the virus traveled to Honduras. Many expecting mother's have made it a point to avoid traveling.
"I would typically go to Mexico, but I just preventative. I don't want to harm a baby," explained Marincic.
"We actually had a trip planned when I was maybe four or five months pregnant that we had to cancel" said Joell Singer, expecting mother.
Other than a mosquito bite, Zika can spread from a mother to her unborn child, through blood transfusions and sexual contact.
"Thankfully my husband didn't have to travel overseas or anything like that or else that would have complicated things a little more," explained Singer.
DHS is testing hundreds of people who have traveled to Zika infected countries. Even though the department hasn't identified mosquitoes in Wisconsin carrying the Zika virus, pregnant women have concerns.
"I do, but I'm due in two weeks and a day so I'm hoping we're not going to get many mosquitoes before then," said Marincic.
The Health Department won't say where the infected woman lives or confirm whether or not she's pregnant.
You can learn more about the virus by clicking here.
