First zika virus case confirmed in commonwealth

Health experts say such cases are to be expected in Europe, given the scale of the outbreak in South America and the frequency of worldwide travel.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama called for the rapid development of tests, vaccines and treatments to fight the virus, following a briefing on the spread of the disease, the White House said. She added the person posed no risk to others, as it is not mosquito season in Virginia. The CDC is urging pregnant women not to travel to the countries where the virus has had outbreaks.

The WHO warned on Tuesday that the Zika virus is likely to spread across nearly all of the Americas.

The Zika virus, discovered decades ago in Africa, was long thought to be more of a nuisance illness, with symptoms generally much milder than its cousin dengue. It has since spread to 20 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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The virus which has been linked to birth defects and possibly a nerve disorder could gradually spread in the USA in the warmer months, Reuters reported.

Specifically, Zika virus has been transmitted in Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Venezuela, according to the CDC.

Dr. Ward agreed it’s best for pregnant women to stay home for now, because the dangers are very real.

“People who are anxious about Zika, what they should do is make an appointment with the travel clinic and come in and talk to one of our doctors”, said Boraston.

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is reporting a jump in the number of mosquito-borne Zika virus cases. One case had been reported earlier.

Almost 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in 2014.

Zika virus has been linked with microcephaly.

Many people don’t have any symptoms.

Argentina authorities say they are investigating a possible case of infection by the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

The role of Aedes mosquitoes in transmitting Zika is documented and well understood, while evidence about other transmission routes is limited.