Zika threat to Canada low: health officer

Brazilian officials still say they believe there’s a sharp increase in cases of microcephaly and strongly suspect the Zika virus, which first appeared in the country past year, is to blame.

The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also been sending text messages to people traveling in regions where Zika has spread to inform them of the disease and preventive measures.

Pennsylvania State Health Officials held a conference call Friday afternoon to update folks on the status of the Zika virus. According to Ray Pontzer, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Allegheny County Medical Society, if someone traveled to South America any time before last spring, chances are they were not exposed.

The World Health Organization says the Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas and could reach 4 million cases in the next year.

Assistant Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), and Sylvain Aldighieri, Unit chief for International Health Regulations epidemic alert and response of WHO, hold a joint press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 28, 2016.

Zika virus poses the biggest threat to pregnant women. When pregnant women contract the virus, it seems to put their babies at greater risk of microcephaly, a condition that includes smaller-than-normal skulls, stunted development and sometimes death. The CDC also recommended that women who have recently traveled to these places during their pregnancy be screened and monitored for the virus.

The WHO’s Western Pacific Region Office in Manila said as long as Aedes mosquitoes circulated in the region “it can be anticipated that the virus will emerge”.

“Condom use is advised for a male traveller for six months following recovery if a clinical illness compatible with Zika virus infection or laboratory confirmed Zika virus infection was reported”. There have been 31 cases of USA citizens getting the virus overseas as of Friday morning, according to the CSC.

PHE added: “This is a precaution and may be revised as more information becomes available”.

The primary mosquito that carries the disease is not found in Pennsylvania, but one type of mosquito which can potentially carry the disease has been reported in the state. The Zika virus is now spreading at an alarming rate across a number of Central and South American territories, with Brazil in particular having borne the brunt of the outbreak. “We need to reassure Canadians that the risk in Canada is very, very low”, Taylor said.

“These imported cases may result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the United States”, the organization wrote on its website.