3 test positive for Zika virus in New York-authorities

Brazil’s Health Ministry said on January 20 that 3,893 cases of microcephaly, a rare congenital condition in which babies are born with an abnormally small head, have been associated with Zika.

Countries in the Americas with confirmed locally-acquired cases include: Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname and Venezuela.

Several South American countries have warned women against falling pregnant after an outbreak of the Zika virus.

Researchers at UTMB’s Galveston National Laboratory, where Weaver is scientific director, will be studying Zika and trying to determine whether it is responsible for the jump in microcephaly cases and whether the virus has mutated.

The Zika virus has spread to 13 additional countries or territories since its last assessment in December, the Stockholm-based agency said in a statement.

“I think it’s very likely Zika is directly or partially responsible for most if not all of these cases in Brazil”. “That’s what triggered these red flags for global travel by USA women”, Slifka said. Local public health authorities announced that, in addition to severe birth defects, the infection may be linked to a paralytic condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS.

Berkeley public health officials said there have been no confirmed Zika virus cases in the city, nor have they received any reports of suspected Zika virus.

Originating in East Africa, Zika landed in Latin America previous year and has spread across virtually the whole region via Aedes aegypti mosquitos, says the Panamerican Health Organization.

The good news is, while it’s not certain, scientists believe once an individual has been infected with the virus, they are immune and won’t become infected again, according to Higgs. Samoa, in the south Pacific, is also reporting Zika for the first time.

“If it is that a patient is known to be exposed to the Zika virus in pregnancy and visits a doctor, there is no treatment or vaccine or prevention once the virus is on board”.

But health authorities have reported only six cases of microcephaly where the infant was infected with the mosquito-born Zika virus.

The Zika virus is often transmitted by mosquitoes, and has been likened to a milder form of dengue fever.

Women’s rights activists have also faulted health ministries for failing to address the role of men in pregnancies.

The scare came as many people prepared to travel to and around Brazil for the February carnival – not to mention months before visitors from around the world will come for the Olympics.

The Berkeley woman, who is pregnant with her first child, is being tested for Zika infection.

In recent weeks, the CDC has issued travel advisories that recommend no travel to Brazil for pregnant women or women hoping to conceive.

“If travel is unavoidable, or they live in areas where Zika is reported, they should take scrupulous insect bite avoidance measures both during daytime and nighttime hours”.