Zika: Colombia becomes second most infected country

Nassau County has one confirmed case of Zika virus in a resident who traveled to an area outside the US where Zika virus transmission has been documented.

Canada’s Public Health Agency confirms there are four cases of the Zika virus in Canada.

The main effort of the prevention efforts was to prevent the reproduction of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever and the Zika virus to humans, Andi said.

“It is likely that earlier in pregnancy, the first and second trimester, may be more risky, but we don’t really have all the information right now”, explains Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control. Discussions on this disease outcome and the threat from Zika virus infection have taken place with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Suva office.

Colombia has also said it had seen an increase in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause temporary paralysis, that has also been linked to zika. Nevertheless, the CDC has recommended travel restrictions in Central and South America for pregnant women. Health officials say they’ll be on alert come spring.

Zika virus spreads to people through mosquito bites, but it is not deadly. In the United States, it is a very different situation from the Zika epidemic in Brazil, where there were an estimated 1 million people infected by Zika by the end of 2015. Because the virus is linked to birth defects, expectant moms are being warned not to travel to countries battling the virus. Health officials suggests wearing mosquito net and insect repellant to prevent mosquito bites. Healthcare providers should contact their state or local health department to facilitate laboratory testing in symptomatic patients.

“The symptoms are common symptoms; fever, joint pain, pink-eye and a rash”. About 24 countries in the Americas have reported the Zika virus was within their borders, USA Today reported.