Four Zika cases found in New York

With cases of the Zika virus in 20 countries, including six states in the US, there’s a growing concern about the disease that’s linked to a birth defect.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus is likely to spread across almost all of the Americas.

On Wednesday, Nicaragua became the 22nd country affected by the Zika outbreak.

On Tuesday, Colombia issued alert over the Zika virus, which has already infected 13,800 people in the country. As of right now, no vaccine exists to prevent the Zika virus.

Around 4,000 babies born to mothers infected with the Zika virus in Brazil have been born with microcephaly – a condition where the child has an underdeveloped brain.

A person in Arkansas tested positive for the mosquito-borne Zika Virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed. “Women that are in the process of trying to get pregnant or that are pregnant, I would advise them to change their itinerary and to move some place different with their cruise”, says Wright”. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

A Danish tourist has been infected by the Zika virus after visiting southern and central America, Danish hospital officials said. Symptoms are usually mild lasting only several days and up to a week. There is also a reported spike in Zika cases in Puerto Rico.

Brazilian officials still say they believe there’s a sharp increase in cases of microcephaly and strongly suspect the Zika virus is to blame.

“They could carry the virus back here but since we don’t have the mosquitoes here it wouldn’t go from person to person”, Edwards said.

Brazil is worst hit, with its government saying the country must wage war against the mosquito that spread the virus, by eliminating stagnant water spots where it bred.

Health officials in some areas, including El Salvador, Brazil and parts of Panama, are urging women to postpone pregnancy to avoid the potential risk.