China reports 1st case of imported Zika virus

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the first confirmed cases of Zika virus in two residents who recently traveled to countries affected by the ongoing outbreak of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was reporting 35 cases of Zika virus in 12 states and the District of Columbia prior to Ohio’s case. Officials plan a preparedness exercise before the state’s mosquito season, which runs from May to October. Most patients recover within about a week from any Zika symptoms, which can include a fever, rash and joint aches.

Pregnant women can be infected with Zika virus in any trimester and there have been increased cases of microcephaly possibly associated with Zika virus infections. In Texas, however, a person was infected through sexual contact with a partner who traveled to a country where the virus is rampant.

The women will be given specialized obstetric care, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. An epidemic of the mosquito-borne illness now is occurring in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

“In this situation, since it’s a traveler and we don’t have mosquitos right now that are active in the OH, the guidance would be just to make sure that the individual is doing well, doesn’t have any questions about zika virus”.

Although Zika usually causes mild, flu-like symptoms often lasting for up to one week, the virus has also been linked to thousands of suspected birth defects.

A suspicious link between Zika’s arrival in Brazil a year ago and a surge in the number of babies born with microcephaly have prompted travel warnings for those expecting.

The U.S. government, with its considerable resources, ought to commit to finding a more effective test to diagnose Zika, determine whether there is a point in pregnancy when the virus is most unsafe to a fetus, and work diligently on a vaccine, which could take years to produce. The state health department will be enhancing mosquito surveillance activities as the weather warms up and will continue these efforts throughout the summer.

The Aedes mosquitos that spread Zika are not native to Canada so there is little risk of it spreading locally. “There have been no reported cases of Zika virus disease transmission through mosquito bites anywhere in the continental [United States]”.