While there are no locally acquired cases of Zika in Oklahoma, there are now nine travel associated cases of the illness reported here. State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristi Bradley says it’s a bigger problem elsewhere, but with vacation season, more residents traveling could acquire it elsewhere. She says, for now, West Nile remains the bigger threat in Oklahoma. There has been at least one case of locally acquired West Nile from a mosquito in the state this year, in the McAlester area.
One travel associated case of Zika in Oklahoma is a pregnant woman. The biggest concern about Zika is the possibility it could cause birth defects.