What you need to know about the Zika Virus

At the meantime, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said he does not believe the spreading Zika virus “is a problem for the Olympics”, which open in six months in the picturesque South American city. However, Zika can cause severe birth defects in babies of infected mothers. At least 31 people are diagnosed with the virus in the United States and that includes pregnant women as close at IL. The possibility that the Zika virus and this condition are linked only emerged in October when Brazil saw a huge upsurge in the number of cases of microcephaly.

An outbreak of Zika virus is unlikely in New Mexico, but travelers to any of two dozen nations should take steps to avoid mosquito bites and watch for symptoms of illness after they return, health officials warned Thursday.

“I think it’s important thing for people to consider if they’re going to Central America”, says Stephanie Busch.

PHE advised people to look out for signs of the infection, including fever, joint pain, itching and conjunctivitis or red eyes, but it is estimated that 80% of people with it have no symptoms.

The species of mosquito that transmits Zika is generally not found in the Boston area.

The Centers for Disease Control is warning pregnant women not to travel to countries where the Zika virus has been spreading. It causes newborns to be born with small heads, brain damage, and other developmental issues.

The CDC has said “there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika”.

“We are focusing on especially strengthening the surveillance system”, J.P. Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said in a statement after a meeting with senior officials from the Health Ministry and AIIMS.

Ms Mani said there has been an ongoing surveillance on Zika virus by the Ministry from past year including clean-up campaigns against mosquito vectors for dengue (which is the same vector for Chikungunya and Zika Virus). “More research is still needed on transmission and effects of this disease”.