Four Canadians confirmed infected with Zika virus

In fact, officials at VCU Medical Center said Thursday a patient is being tested who may have contracted the Zika virus.

The National Health Institute said that 1,050 of Colombia’s Zika infection cases were confirmed by laboratory tests, 17,115 by clinical exams, and 2,132 were suspected cases. Fauci said that vaccine was never developed because a drug company partner could not be found, but he did not see this as an issue for Zika. Common symptoms of Zika virus disease include rash, fever, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Symptoms are mild to none for most people, the serious risk is only in pregnant women.

The Zika virus, which was first reported in Brazil in 2014, is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus, according to WHO. Travelers showing symptoms are still being urged to seek testing for tracking purposes, but there have been no fatalities from the Zika virus recorded in the United States.

There is some concern that the Zika virus can be spread through blood, so the Canadian Blood Services says it is considering changes to some policies, such as denying donations from anyone who have recently visited the affected countries.

There is no cure for Zika virus or microcephaly, which likely results in lifelong disability.

The CDC says the virus has also been spread through blood transfusions and through sexual contact.

Dr. Kurt Barnhart, chairman of the Pennsylvania Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, said physicians don’t know how often the virus is transmitted from mother to fetus if the woman is infected while pregnant.

The health sector was asked to enhance the monitoring work at border areas, particularly among vehicles and passengers returning from Zika virus-hit areas.

A more long-term response to Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses is to better control the pests that carry the disease.

She recalled that World Health Organization was criticised in 2015 for reacting too slowly to West Africa’s Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 10,000 people, and it promised to cut its response time. For that reason, the CDC is recommending that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant not to travel to the 24 countries where the disease is widespread.