AUSTIN, April 14, 2016 - Texas has had 29 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease. Of those, 28 were in travelers who were infected abroad and diagnosed after they returned home; one of those travelers was a pregnant woman. One case involved a Dallas County resident who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the Zika infection while traveling abroad.

Case counts by county:

Bexar – 3
Dallas – 5
Denton – 1
Fort Bend – 2
Grayson – 1
Harris – 11
Tarrant – 3
Travis – 2
Wise – 1

The Texas Department of State Health Services is encouraging people to follow travel precautions for regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

DSHS recommends travelers avoid mosquito bites while abroad and for seven days after returning, in case they have been exposed to Zika virus. People can also protect themselves from mosquito bites by taking a few simple steps:

Wear Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents
Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Keep mosquitoes out with air conditioning or intact window screens.
Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito times

Read more about mosquito control and bite prevention on the Transmission and Prevention pages.