CDC: Men who were in Zika areas should use condoms

“The WHO and public health agencies are in a very hard position as they need to make recommendations and judgements on limited evidence”. Tests on cell cultures showed the virus in the samples was capable of damaging the cells, meaning it was active.

“Each discovery is a surprise and a new find for us”, she said.

In Brazil alone, there are now 404 cases of microcephaly that were reported since October, with most of the cases being linked to a Zika infection.

Oswaldo Cruz, also from Fiocruz, added: “It means the virus is active, capable of infecting a cell so this is completely different, it means that the virus is functional”.

“Each passing day, the linkage between Zika and microcephaly becomes stronger”, Frieden said.

The outbreak of the virus has been linked to birth defects in thousands of newborns in Brazil, and Murphy said the team had been advised of those risks.

Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, told reporters Friday that the guidelines are focused on preventing transmission to pregnant women due to the risky birth defects associated with the virus.

Whether there is a link to microcephaly is one of many unanswered questions about this outbreak.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to repeal any policies that restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion.

Also, Brazilian health officials said on Thursday they had confirmed two cases of transmission through blood transfusions.

Women returning from the affected countries should also avoid getting pregnant for 28 days.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, though the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases expects early trials of a potential vaccine to start by the end of this year.

Zika virus disease is considered by the World Health Organization to be a serious global public health threat.

The Zika virus is an infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitos, which are not native to Northern Ireland, so the risk to the population here is extremely small.

Most people with the virus have no symptoms, or experience only mild symptoms like fever, headache and rash.

The CDC recommended that all pregnant US women consider postponing travel to the areas where the Zika virus is spreading, including 24 countries in Central and South America.

According to the CDC, the virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitos and can not be transmitted by casual person-to-person contact.

Rockland health officials said she contracted the virus there, not in NY, where it is too cold for mosquito activity.

The first case of a pregnant woman in Europe being diagnosed with Zika has been confirmed in Spain.

First, it’s important to point out that only about one in five people infected with Zika virus gets sick.