Sen. Blumenthal said it's impractical to expect all pregnant women to avoid Latin America.
With rising concern about the spread of the Zika virus, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is calling for more federal funding for research into a vaccine, and said avoiding travel to affected regions isn't enough.
The senator spoke in Hartford surrounded by leaders in the Latin American community. He said that Connecticut has a real interest in preventing the spread of the Zika virus because of the number of its residents that travel to Puerto Rico and countries in the Caribbean.
"Our citizens will travel to those countries, our citizens will be affected by it, our people are at risk if the mosquito carrying these diseases comes to Connecticut," Blumenthal said.
State health officials say they don't expect anyone to get the disease from a mosquito in Connecticut, because the number of those mosquitos here is relatively low.
That said, the state will likely see cases of infected residents who got the disease while traveling.
Still, health officials say the risk of anyone in the continental U.S. getting the virus is extremely low.
"The average American in the United States puts himself at risk only by their travel, unless they live in the Caribbean," said Dr. Jack Ross, chief of infectious disease at Hartford Hospital. "The average American will probably not contact, or have the opportunity to acquire this virus, except through their travel."
Ross said pregnant women could consider not traveling to affected areas. If they do, they should take the necessary precautions against mosquito bites. But Blumenthal said it's impractical to expect all pregnant women to avoid Latin America.
"In the long term, simply not traveling is not a solution -- anymore than telling women not to get pregnant is not a solution. We need the research that is necessary for effective treatment, rapid diagnosis and prevention," Blumenthal said.
Most people do not need to be hospitalized from the disease. But officials are studying whether some severe birth defects can be linked to an infection during pregnancy.
Three New Yorkers have contracted the Zika virus after returning from countries that have experienced a Zika outbreak, according to New York City health officials.
This report contains information from The Associated Press.
