JACKSON, Miss. (WTOK) –
The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported the first case of the Zika virus.

The two travel-related cases of Zika virus are residents of Warren County who traveled to an area north of Venezuela.

The MSDH says Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause devastating birth defects if contracted during pregnancy. Zika virus infection can cause a mild illness with symptoms (fever, joint pain, conjunctivitis and rash) lasting for several days to a week, but 80 percent of those infected show no symptoms at all. Death is very rare.

There were 23 Mississippi travel-related Zika cases in 2016.