Colombia announces first Zika-linked deaths

The news comes one day after Colombia, the country hit the second-hardest by the mosquito-borne disease after Brazil, announced three deaths which it blamed on Zika.

The new interim guidelines, issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also said men who are concerned about sexual transmission of Zika virus to a non-pregnant partner might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms consistently and correctly during sex. There is no treatment or vaccine.

Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly.

Women’s reproductive rights are a touchy subject in largely Catholic Latin America, but the United Nations human rights office said countries urging women to avoid pregnancy – a list that comprises Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Panama – had to give them ways to control their fertility. “And we’re not surprised not to see cases of microcephaly in other countries because of the time frame between infection and delivery”.

Kalil, an immunologist, said the institute was cultivating the virus in quantities sufficient to start tests in isolating antibodies in rodents.

Non-pregnant couples involving travel to Zika-vulnerable areas are also advised to follow the same advice.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil-Brazil’s top research institute said Friday that Zika has been detected in urine and saliva, but added that there is no proof the virus can be transmitted through those fluids.

Florida’s warm climate, year-round mosquitoes and revolving door of worldwide travelers make it vulnerable to the Zika virus, but local governments aggressively urge people to dump or cover anything on their property that holds water so they don’t end up raising mosquitoes that spread the virus through bites.

Scientists have begun to study whether Zika infection in pregnancy can cause microcephaly.

“Given the complexity of unanswered questions on Zika & (associated) disease, our goal is to encourage all researchers to share their data ASAP”, the World Health Organization said on Twitter.

“Our primary concern and priority here is the protection of pregnant women”, said Frieden.

An estimated 80% of those who develop the Zika virus do not present with any symptoms – which means the true number of people now infected in Colombia could actually number between 80,000 and 100,000.

The World Health Organisation has declared Zika an global public health emergency.

Zika is primarily contracted through mosquito bites – pregnant women can pass the virus on to their fetus; it also can be transmitted from blood transfusions or through sexual contact.