Health department confirms 3 Zika cases in D.C.

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Department of Health says it has confirmed three cases of Zika in the District — all of which involved people who contracted it after traveling abroad.

The virus, which has been linked to birth defects in the Americas, is primarily spread through mosquito bites.

Of the victims, one got Zika in 2015 after traveling to South America, says D.C. Department of Health spokesman Marcus Williams.

Another two got it in 2016, including a woman who is pregnant. One of the victims traveled to South American and another traveled to Central America, Williams adds.

Williams says he can’t provide any additional information about the pregnant woman’s case, nor can he identify the exact countries the victims visited.

Earlier this week, health officials reported that a person in Texas became infected with the Zika virus through sex.

Stay with WTOP.com for updates.

WTOP’s Paula Wolfson and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.

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