Ask pregnant women about trips to Zika outbreak areas — CDC

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed three cases of Zika virus in Florida, including two in Miami-Dade County.

IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. says there is virtually no risk to IL residents from the women, as the virus is only transferrable by the bite of an infected mosquito. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. It has been found in some pockets of the islands and is blamed for an ongoing outbreak on the Big Island of the dengue virus, which is spread the same way as Zika. This illness is typically a mild and severe disease requiring hospitalization.

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission, as of January 2016.

They are Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Surinam and Venezuela.

On Saturday, Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, confirmed the case.

Mosquitoes carrying Zika have turned up across the Americas and the Caribbean. There is no cure or vaccine for Zika virus, which is simply treated to alleviate symptoms.

Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes (conjunctivitis).

Why is it a concern now? The CDC found the Zika virus in the brains of two Brazilian babies who had microcephaly and died shortly after birth. “We don’t want to recommend everyone be tested and then have a situation where you can’t sort out who is truly positive”, she said.

The CDC says there were 30 times more cases of Zika reported in Brazil last year than in any year since 2010.

Second, the threat seems to be moving closer.

Dr. Aileen Marty, a Florida International University professor and physician who specializes in infectious diseases, said while the mosquitoes in the continental United States do not have the virus “they can acquire it and amplify it”. Experts think it’s likely the pests may end up spreading the virus here, though probably on a smaller scale than what’s been seen in the tropics. Aedes aegypti is known to circulate in the southern U.S. and in north and central Queensland. Mosquito repellants including DEET are safe for pregnant women to use, and people should also wear long sleeves and stay indoors in places where mosquitoes might be.

“It’s extremely rare, but it’s not impossible for a pregnant woman to get Zika on a trip to Brazil”, he noted in comments made before the alert was issued. “This case further emphasizes the importance of the CDC travel recommendations released [Friday]”.