Brazil ‘losing battle’ against Zika virus

USA health officials are stepping up efforts to study the link between Zika virus infections and birth defects in infants amid predictions for widespread circulation of the mosquito-borne virus within the United States during warmer months.

Concerns are mounting that pregnant women infected with zika virus can transmit the disease to their unborn babies, potentially causing birth defects.

The Zika virus is usually relatively mild, with symptoms such as skin rash, fever, muscle and joint pain, lasting up to seven days.

The Zika virus, first discovered decades ago in Africa, was long thought to be more of a nuisance illness, with symptoms generally much milder than its cousin dengue. It also quoted Castro as saying the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits. Little is known about the virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, a medical term that refers to an abnormally small head – a serious condition that can cause lifelong developmental problems. Some governments have also warned women not to get pregnant, due to the extreme health risks for newborns, which have been met with extreme criticism by women’s rights advocates.

The guidelines come after thousands of infants in Brazil were born with microcephaly, which was believed to be linked to Zika infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms an Arkansas resident has tested positive for Zika virus.

Brazil recorded a record 1.6 million cases of dengue in 2015, according to official data, with 839 confirmed deaths – an increase of 80 percent compared to 2014.

Three cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Florida.

In Australia, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the only mosquito capable of carrying the virus – a mosquito found only in far north Queensland. During Mila’s pregnancy with their son, Gabriel, she had no reason to think anything was wrong.

While Ms Penno said it was too soon to know whether pregnant women shouldn’t travel to Brazil for the Olympics in August, the current rainy season was the “perfect time to get insect diseases”. One of the tasks facing health authorities is to rid the breeding places of the Aedes mosquitoes that carry the virus and foster “personal protection” measures among citizens, he said. Colombian officials say they’ve recorded more than 13,500 suspected cases and President Juan Manuel Santos said there could be 600,000 cases by year’s end.