Brazil’s Rousseff calls for war on Zika-carrying mosquito

In recent days, several US airlines have said passengers planning travel to destinations where Zika has spread can change to alternative destinations, switch travel dates or cancel flights for refunds. The virus is spreading “explosively” and could affect as many as four million people in the Americas, according to the WHO. Chan said those numbers as well as the severity of the possible conditions that are being reported – from brain defects in children to paralysis in adults – make the situation dramatically different from what epidemiologists have seen with the virus in the past.

Brazilian officials say they are handing out insect repellent – whose price has gone up since the Zika outbreak began past year – to 400,000 pregnant women on social welfare.

There have been no cases so far of the Zika virus being contracted in the United States, but six to eight people in Pennsylvania now are being tested for the virus. All patients had been travelling outside the country.

There have been 31 cases in the US including some here in Texas.

Genetically modified mosquitoes that would help fight the Zika virus are getting urgent attention from USA regulators as global health officials raise alarms about the pathogen’s spread.

How long does it take for Zika virus test results?

The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites, and can not be spread by casual contact.

“What you have seen from this administration is a response consistent with the kind of threat that could be out there”.

“Will we see local transmission?”

Drawing a full picture of the state of health in Venezuela is hard as the government over a year ago stopped issuing weekly health bulletins, which included data on infant mortality and mosquito-born diseases.

Nigeria’s Health Ministry is warning citizens against traveling to Latin America because of the Zika virus outbreak, and is especially recommending that pregnant women not go there. “So that is really where we are putting the emphasis right now”. “For most people, the risk of the Zika virus are minimal”. “A Danish tourist who travelled to Central and South America was diagnosed on his return with the Zika virus”, a hospital in eastern Denmark said in a statement late on Tuesday. He did not provide a figure.

The virus’ symptoms are similar to dengue fever. But American later this week expanded the policy to include pregnant women and their companion travelers, who still would need a doctor’s note related to the woman’s pregnancy.

Health Minister Isaac Folorunso Adewole is urging health professionals at all ports of entry to examine anyone coming from Latin America for signs of the Zika virus. In a conference call with reporters on Friday, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention principal deputy director Anne Schuchat was asked about a recent New York Times report on the subject.

European countries can use their experience with dengue and chikungunya to control these mosquitoes.

Where has the Zika virus been detected?

Blood supply in Texas is also a major concern.