--- title: Zika Virus Infects University of Pittsburgh Researcher description: A University of Pittsburgh researcher accidentally infected herself with the Zika virus while conducting a lab experiment canonical: https://time.com/4364847/zika-accidental-infection/ author: Rosalie Chan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-06-10T20:38:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T22:31:54.384Z article:section: Health og:title: Researcher Accidentally Infects Herself With Zika Virus og:description: She pricked herself with a needle while conducting a lab experiment og:url: https://time.com/4364847/zika-accidental-infection/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta14ae1cbe9d9597d/698897582dce013af39e96bf/zika.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: zika og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Researcher Accidentally Infects Herself With Zika Virus twitter:description: She pricked herself with a needle while conducting a lab experiment twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta14ae1cbe9d9597d/698897582dce013af39e96bf/zika.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Researcher Accidentally Infects Herself With Zika Virus by [Rosalie Chan](https://time.com/author/rosalie-chan/) ## Rosalie Chan Jun 10, 2016 8:38 PM UTC  An Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed inside a mosquito cage at the Fiocruz institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 23, 2016. An Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed inside a mosquito cage at the Fiocruz institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 23, 2016.Felipe Dana—AP by [Rosalie Chan](https://time.com/author/rosalie-chan/) ## Rosalie Chan Jun 10, 2016 8:38 PM UTC A University of Pittsburgh researcher accidentally infected herself with the [Zika virus](http://time.com/4318624/zika-virus-and-birth-defects-what-you-need-to-know/?iid=sr-link2). While conducting a lab experiment with the virus on May 23, the researcher pricked herself with a needle. Nine days later, she started experiencing symptoms, including a fever. She later tested positive for Zika, [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/10/health/zika-needle-stick-emergency-response-teams/index.html) reports. Since then, her [symptoms have resolved](http://www.achd.net/pr/pubs/2016release/060916%5Fzika.html), the Allegheny County Health Department said. “We want to remind residents that, despite this rare incident, there is still no current risk of contracting Zika from mosquitos in Allegheny County. For those traveling to countries affected by the Zika virus, we urge caution,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, in a statement. Dr. Hacker advised [pregnant women](http://time.com/4304583/what-every-woman-need-to-know-about-zika/?iid=sr-link1) to avoid traveling to countries affected by the Zika virus, and the health department encouraged local residents to protect themselves by wearing insect repellant containing DEET and removing standing water from property. \[[_CNN_](http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/10/health/zika-needle-stick-emergency-response-teams/index.html)\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4364847/zika-accidental-infection/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4364847/zika-accidental-infection/"},"headline":"Researcher Accidentally Infects Herself With Zika Virus","datePublished":"2016-06-10T20:38:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T22:31:54.384Z","description":"She pricked herself with a needle while conducting a lab experiment","url":"https://time.com/4364847/zika-accidental-infection/","keywords":["Zika","Public Health","global health"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta14ae1cbe9d9597d/698897582dce013af39e96bf/zika.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rosalie Chan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rosalie-chan/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta14ae1cbe9d9597d/698897582dce013af39e96bf/zika.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"zika","caption":"An Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed inside a mosquito cage at the Fiocruz institute where they have been screening for mosquitos naturally infected with the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, May 23, 2016. 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