Ireland reports first cases of Zika virus

Health officials say the chances of getting Zika through sexual contact are rare, so mosquitos are what the public really need to focus on.

In a 16-point statement issued later, the ministers agreed to share more information on the virus, strengthen public awareness campaigns at border crossings and airports as well as to bolster training of medical staff on how to prevent and treat Zika.

Irish authorities say they expect to detect more Zika cases in Ireland, partly because of the substantial volume of Irish aid workers who fly back and forth from developing countries.

He gave the example of Colombia, where 20,000 cases of Zika have been confirmed but not a single case of microcephaly, or smaller than normal head size in infants.

Hillsborough County is one of the four counties where Gov. Scott declared a Zika-related health emergency on Wednesday.

Zika threatens more than 4 million people in the Americas, and several countries are working on ways to combat the virus.

The WHO said the virus has been transmitted in at least 32 countries, from South America to the Western Pacific. “We know that we must be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best”.

Dr. George Sealy Massingill, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at John Peter Smith Health Network in Tarrant County, called the Dallas County sexual transmission a “postulated case”. The virus, which causes flu-like symptoms, has also been connected to the birth defect microcephaly. There is no cure. The timing has fueled strong suspicions that Zika is causing the birth defect. Doctors have also linked Zika to a potentially crippling neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome.

A key challenge in tackling Zika is that the virus shows symptoms in only one in five people who are infected.

Testing was done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

While this mosquito-borne disease is rapidly spreading through the Caribbean and Latin America, officials are now saying that avoiding these pesky bugs isn’t the only thing you have to worry about. With the sudden rise in interest in the Zika virus, in particular in Brazil, his research program is poised to take on this added challenge to understand this mosquito’s role in the Zika outbreak. In the past, weather has played a key role, as have economics, human travel, air conditioning and mosquito control. Pregnant women who have traveled to these areas should consult their physician immediately.

The Zika virus could spread in every European country if the Aedes mosquito gets a foothold on the continent, the World Health Organisation has warned. Prompt action is needed, as well as messages from public health officials that are high on candor and low on alarmism.