Maryland Health Officials Announce First Confirmed Case Of Zika Virus

Health officials say Marylanders and other travelers to our area returning from regions with ongoing Zika transmission, such as the Caribbean and Central and South America, may have been exposed to the virus. Most people who contract it have either mild or no symptoms, but it is suspected of causing a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

The Zika-linked miscarriages were the first in the United States, but similar cases have been reported in Brazil since the start of the mosquito-borne disease’s outbreak.

Health officials in Florida have confirmed that a 3rd case of the Zika virus has been discovered in Lee County.

The government believes that as many as 1.5 million Brazilians may have been infected by Zika so far.

Five New York City residents did get infected with Zika while traveling outside the country.

It said there was no trace of Zika in any other organs, suggesting the virus had a tendency to infect and attack nerve cells.

State health officials are working with the CDC and distributing guidance to Maryland hospitals. It’s spread primarily through mosquitoes carrying the virus, but people with the illness can also contract it through sexual contact.

The doctors met behind closed doors and discussed how to provide blood tests to individuals who show symptoms of the disease – fever, rashes, joint pain and reddened eyes.

The latest case involves a woman from the state of Victoria who was going through an “extremely anxious” time, the southern state’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy said.

“Virtually there is no risk to contract the virus here in New York City”, Mayor Bill de Blasio said a news briefing Thursday.

The World Health Organization has deemed the outbreak a “global health emergency” and has advised pregnant women to avoid travel to areas where the virus has been reported.

The Zika virus was first discovered in Africa in 1947. “We have had many teams go to Rio, we are aware of the water quality issues”.

The Victorian woman is considered to be at risk because of the possible link between the virus and birth defects, including microcephaly.