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New Zealand teen tests positive for Zika virus after a holiday in Tonga

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  • New Zealand teen tests positive for Zika virus after a holiday in Tonga

    New Zealand teen tests positive for Zika virus after Tongan holiday

    ERIN SPEEDY
    Last updated 11:40, February 9 2016
    ...
    After a week of anticipation waiting for blood test results, Jen Byrn learned on Tuesday that she has tested positive for the virus.

    The 18-year-old rushed home from a holiday in Tonga with symptoms of the virus - rash, sore eyes, headaches, general unwellness and swollen fingers.
    ...
    Jen became unwell on the fourth day of her holiday but put it down to the tropical weather and did not think anything of it.

    She had at least 20 mosquito bites on each leg when she contracted the mosquito-borne virus.

    She broke out in a red spotty rash the day after she got home and when her mother, Noel Byrn, called health officials, the symptoms were worse than originally feared.

    "It started on her tummy and I said to her 'Jen you've got a rash on her tummy' and then by that night it was from her neck down to her toes and under her feet," Noel said.

    The worst part of it was her sore eyes - she could only look straight ahead not sideways, up or down. She also had headaches and red swollen fingers.
    ...
    A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health said there have been 10 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in New Zealand this year. All 10 of thoses cases involved people who had recently been in the countries where the outbreak has been occurring, she said.

    - Stuff

    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela
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