A link has been seen between Zika infections and cases of microcephaly

Epidemiologist, Elizabeth Schiffman says travelers should know about it. “It’s something that people should be aware of because it can make you sick, even if you are only mildly ill”.

Officials say we can help prevent the spread by removing any standing water areas where the mosquitoes breed, and by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers when outside. The connection to Zika is still being investigated, and health officials note there are many causes of the condition, including genetics, and exposure during pregnancy to alcohol and certain germs and toxic chemicals. Most patients do not develop any symptoms, but those who do develop them experience rashes, a fever, joint pain, and red eyes, all of which last for about a week at most. However, all the Zika virus cases reported in the United States have been travel-related and from people who travelled to Latin America. The virus is also linked to microencephaly, an abnormal smallness of the head in infants, and so Zika is especially unsafe for pregnant women.

Following the cases reported from Texas and Hawaii, Zika virus cases are now starting to be reported from other parts of USA, including Florida and IL.

The virus is passed when a mosquito bites a person infected with the virus, and then passes it along to the mosquito’s next victim.

The agency issued a warning to pregnant women to avoid travel to 14 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America affected by the virus.

He said most of the cases of microcephaly remain concentrated in Brazil’s poor northeastern region.

He said the government chose to make the announcement because 5,397 cases of the Zika virus had been detected in El Salvador in 2015 and the first few days of this year.

The virus was discovered in the 1940s but recently showed up in Brazil.

The birth defect is called microcephaly and involves babies being born with smaller than normal heads and brains. A woman who lived in Brazil gave birth to a baby in Hawaii who had the Zika virus.

CDC has warned that because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will spread to new countries.