A disease spread through mosquito bites, it’s no wonder Zika virus is on everyone’s watch list, as they trek and travel across the globe during the summer months.
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Although fewer than 1,000 cases are reported in the U.S. each year, the CDC has issued an alert for travel to areas including: Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica and Cuba among other Latin American nations, where Zika virus is spreading like wild fire. Travelers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy have even been encouraged to consult a doctor before cashing in on those frequent flier miles.
Chrissy Rutherford, a New York woman, recently wrote an op-ed about contracting the rare illness while vacationing in Jamaica. According to the 30-year-old senior digital editor for Harper’s Bazaar, while her symptoms were very reminiscent of the sickness, Zika “had not even crossed my mind,” she told People at the time.
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That is… until Rutherford developed a rash on her face and forearms. “I started breaking out in a rash, that’s when I was like ‘OK, there’s definitely something wrong with me,” she said. Only, even then, Rutherford was still in disbelief. Even her friends laughed off the chances of her self-diagnosis – after all, per recent news reports the disease hasn’t hit the U.S. quite like its surrounding nations.
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“When I was [in Jamaica], I was like, ‘What are the chances I would actually get [Zika],’” Rutherford said. “I had put bug spray on once or twice, but I wasn’t super vigilant about it, and I didn’t put any on during the daytime.”
