Public health emergency declared in 4 Fla. counties for Zika virus

However, while this enhances what we know about transmission of the illness, it doesn’t change what we know about its severity.

Scott signed the order Wednesday to cover Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough and Santa Rosa counties. On Tuesday, the health department reported that a second Hillsborough County resident has been diagnosed with the Zika Virus. The big concern is for pregnant women because of the virus’ strong association to serious birth defects.

Dr. Ginger Cameron, Cedarville University professor of pharmacy practice, is an expert on infectious diseases and said it’s important to not overreact to Zika being declared a global emergency, but it’s also very important to pay attention to the facts.

Zika virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes and through sexual activity, according to DCHHS. Dallas County Health and Human Services said it received confirmation of the case from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this instance there was no risk to a developing fetus. So a local mosquito in Florida bites that infected person, picks up the virus, turns around and bites an uninfected person.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday they were concerned about reports the Zika virus had been sexually transmitted and called for a thorough investigation.

The CDC says it will issue guidance in the coming days on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus, focusing on the male sexual partners of women who are or may be pregnant.

Yesterday (February 2) the first two cases of the virus were detected in Ireland and a case of Zika being transmitted through sex was reported in the US.

It also directs the Florida Department of Health to determine further resources and information needed in the state from the CDC to combat the spread of the Zika virus.

The virus has been tied to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, raising alarms as it spreads throughout the continent.

That individual contracted the disease after travelling to Columbia in January, and has since made a full recovery, officials said. The person later tested positive for Zika, along with their s*xual partner, who had not traveled to the area, the CDC said in a statement.

The Zika virus, which is found in the Pacific Islands and in parts of Africa, has become a health crisis in several South and Central American countries and some Caribbean islands. Any possible sources of infection for the Zika virus have to be studied carefully.