Kenya may withdraw from Rio Olympics over Zika virus concerns

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel advisory for affected countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Samoa and Cape Verde. The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites from Aedes aegypti and causes only a mild illness in most people.

The fight against Zika remains in the hands of local mosquito control and health departments.

On Monday, the President asked Congress to approve nearly $2 billion in emergency funds to help American scientists learn more about the virus.

Zika’s march is unsettling to see, of course, particularly for pregnant women or those hoping to become pregnant. However, imported cases among infected travelers visiting or returning to the United States may result in the spread of Zika in some areas of the country. Follow-up testing around the middle of the second trimester of pregnancy is also recommended because of an ongoing risk of Zika virus exposure.

Kenya’s sports minister Hassan Wario said on Tuesday the country has not yet decided whether to take part in Rio Olympics after meeting with health officials, according to the best-selling Daily Nation newspaper. All U.S. cases so far have been travel-related.

While the Zika virus, which causes fever, joint pain, skin rashes, and other symptoms, is usually not considered life threatening, researchers suspect the disease is linked to the birth defect known as microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development.

“We’re encouraging health care providers around the state to know the signs and symptoms of Zika virus and give out correct information to their patients”, said New Mexico Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Retta Ward, MPH. Many athletes say this won’t change their plans.

In addition, because there have been some cases in which Zika has been transmitted through sexual contact, the CDC is advising men who have traveled to areas where Zika is rampant not to have unprotected sex with their partners if they are pregnant. The mosquito species that can transmit Zika virus have been found in Doña Ana, Eddy, and Chaves counties. “Congressional action on the Administration’s request will accelerate our ability to prevent, detect and respond to the Zika virus and bolster our ability to reduce the potential for future infectious disease outbreaks”.

Deputy Director Tyler Brock says Siouxland District Health is receiving several calls daily about the Zika Virus.