Pennsylvania Urged To Read Zika Virus Travel Advisories

We’re learning more about a virus health experts across the state say is causing “urgent concerns” for pregnant women.

While there are no confirmed cases of Zika virus in Pennsylvania, the state Health Department says it’s investigating 6 to 8 cases.

With Zika virus cases being reported from South America and the USA, the Centre on Friday made a decision to constitute a technical group to monitor the situation even as it prepared to come out with an advisory soon.

The World Health Organization has raised a global alert because the disease has spread in Brazil and 22 countries in the Americas.

The Zika virus is spread through the Aedes aegypti mosquito – responsible for dengue, yellow fever and other tropical diseases.

Today, officials also said the virus might also be transmitted through blood or sexual contact, although are in the “early days” of research and information gathering. It is recommended that pregnant women or people who believe they could become pregnant should speak to their doctors before travelling.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday (local time) that the virus was “spreading explosively” and could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas.

The agencies also said returning travellers from affected areas should seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of Zika such as fever, skin rashes, joint and muscle pains, headaches and red eyes.

Zika virus infection in this individual serves as a reminder that people in Virginia can acquire the disease during travel to countries where Zika virus transmission is occurring, the department said. The travelers were infected overseas and diagnosed after they returned home.

The virus, for which there is still no vaccine or treatment, is mosquito-borne and linked to brain damage in thousands of Brazil’s infants.

Officials urged women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant to avoid traveling to areas of transmission.