SAN ANTONIO -- Metro Health officials confirmed to KENS 5 that six people are being tested for the Zika virus in Bexar County.
They have not confirmed that any of the patients contracted the virus. Test results from the CDC could be available by next week.
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is encouraging people to not panic. There have been no confirmed cases of Texas mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, which Dr. Anil Mangla said indicates the virus is not spreading locally.
"If you are not traveling outside of the U.S. you don't have the risk of Zika as of yet," Dr. Mangla said.
Officials stressed that if the six Bexar County patients have the virus, they would have been infected outside the United States. Metro Health officials added that the six had traveled to a variety of South American countries, and none of them are pregnant.
The mosquito-borne illness has spread to 22 countries in the Americas, including Brazil. After a surge of babies born were born there with small heads and underdeveloped brains, researchers are worried the virus could be linked to the birth defects. The CDC is warning expectant moms to not travel to countries battling the virus.
Cases have already been diagnosed in the U.S., including six cases in Southeast Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. In a statement, DSHS said all the people diagnosed with Zika traveled to areas where the virus is spreading.
The CDC has now passed down guidelines for doctors to ask patients about their travel history if they are showing symptoms, including fever, rash, conjunctivitis and joint pain.
There currently is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus. If you must travel, experts recommend you let your doctor know so you can be checked out when coming back to the country.
