SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Jamaica Ministry of Health has confirmed the Caribbean country’s first case of the Zika virus.
A ministry statement released on Saturday says a 4-year-old child has recovered after contracting Zika.
It adds that authorities have stepped up prevention and detection efforts in the Portmore, St. Catherine area where the child lives.
Caribbean Public Health Agency lab tests for the virus came back positive on Friday afternoon.
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Authorities are investigating the case in hopes of determining the source of infection.
The child began showing symptoms on Jan. 17 and had earlier travelled to Texas.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health will provide a full update at a news briefing on Monday.
Pregnant women and others on the island are being urged to take precautions to avoid the mosquito that transmits the disease.
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