The Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health says less than one dozen cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in the state. Gerd Clabaugh gave an update at the Governor’s weekly news conference.

 

Clabaugh says you should be aware of the potential to become infected with Zika if you go to one of the countries where the disease is active.

 

Deputy State Epidemiologist Ann Garvey says the mosquitoes which carry Zika are not native to Iowa and the chance of becoming infected through a mosquito bite is extremely low.

 

Since 2005, Iowa has had between five and 44 reported cases of West Nile Virus each year.