SC samples tested for Zika virus

Health Minister Luisana Melo said Thursday on state television that 4,700 suspected cases of Zika have been recorded in Venezuela.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to avoid contracting the virus; just like West Nile or Chikungunya, the best way to prevent yourself from getting Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites.

Speaking in Washington, Fauci said the USA government is taking the virus “very seriously” and preparing in case it should spread to the United States. On Feb 13, more than 200,000 soldiers will join a nationwide effort to eliminate mosquito infestations.

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In a statement, the commission warned of the risk of imported Zika cases, even though no case has been reported in China.

A woman who traveled to Colombia in November has been diagnosed with Zika, according to the City of Houston Health Department.

Transat says pregnant women with a medical note can reschedule or change destinations if they were booked to fly to countries that have been listed by the Pan American Health Organization as having the virus.

Almost half of Colombia’s Zika cases have been reported in the country’s Caribbean region, the bulletin said.

“There is some evidence that mother-to-child transmission may occur, there have been a few reports identifying the possibility of transmission of Zika virus through transfusion of infected blood or possible sexual transmission of Zika virus”.

The disease is now thought to be especially unsafe for pregnant women, as it appears to cause microcephaly, characterized by abnormally small head and brain development. Over 3500 cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since last October.

Previous year the virus was discovered in Brazil, and in the past eight months has been found in 23 countries in South, Central and North America.

The enemy of mankind is undoubtedly the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

For pregnant women, an infection could be serious and impact the health of their babies.