Florida governor, surgeon general to discuss Zika readiness

The ministry says the number of cases diagnosed so far are within expectations and do not pose a risk for the virus to be spread in Spain. “It is of concern to us because it is primarily spread by mosquitoes, not the ones that spread malaria but another type which we also have in Ghana and because it was discovered in Africa, the mode of transmission is here and we are potentially at risk”.

Brown said unless another type of mosquito known as the Asian tiger mosquito is shown to be capable of carrying and spreading the virus, Kentucky residents won’t have much to worry about.

“It’s a mosquito that we have in Kentucky, but only about one out of about every 5,000 mosquitoes is an Aedes aegypti”. A rainy, humid winter already had mosquito control officials on alert statewide and door-to-door inspections have been increased in neighborhoods where 12 cases of Zika were reported, all from people who have traveled overseas.

“It is extremely important that individuals who have traveled to countries where there are ongoing Zika virus outbreaks keep guard against additional mosquito bites”.

News of the mosquito-borne virus, thought to cause birth defects, first emerged in Brazil a year ago, and health authorities have warned the disease could infect up to 4 million people in the Americas and spread worldwide. However, as noted previously, Zika infection in pregnant women may be associated with congenital microcephaly and fetal loss.

“The infection often occurs without symptoms but it can cause a mild illness which can include fever, headache, rash, joint and muscle pain, and conjunctivitis”.

A man and a woman in an older age group, who are unrelated, tested positive for the virus after coming back to Ireland in recent months from South America but are now well recovered.

The Anoka County, Minn., woman in her 60s who developed symptoms January 1 recently had returned from Honduras. “Our Department of Health will continue to be in constant communication with all county health offices, hospitals and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)”.

About 80 percent of the people who are infected with the Zika virus don’t even develop symptoms, the World Health Organization says.

Gonzalo Vazquez, an environmental science researcher at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, said any transmission beyond Florida is likely to remain tightly contained because most tourists returning north aren’t likely to be bitten by any mosquitoes during the winter.