Health official doubts Zika virus poses major threat to US

Until recently, the virus was seen as a mild disease, but concern has been elevated after the recent discovery of a possible link to birth defects in some affected countries and also to Guillain-Barr syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause paralysis.

As for the case in Alberta, it’s not yet known in what country they picked up the virus, and their medical status remains unknown.

Dr Al Hosani said there had not been any suspected cases of Zika in this country.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, who runs WHO’s outbreak response department, said any country that has the Aedes mosquito should be concerned about the possibility of the Zika virus arriving.

Romit Jain from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm says there have been confirmed cases of imported Zika virus infections in Germany and Britain. All are travel-related, the CDC’s Lyle Petersen said, and “this number is increasing rapidly”.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has called for a meeting of the member nations of South America’s Mercosur trading bloc to discuss ways to join forces to eliminate the Aedes mosquito and the Zika virus it transmits.

“Because it is not mosquito season in Virginia, this individual with Zika virus infection poses no risk to other Virginians”, said State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine, MD, MPH, FAAFP.

American scientists studying the Zika virus have warned that it could be a decade before a vaccine is publicly available. A year ago it sparked a massive outbreak in Brazil, with over 270,000 cases so far. He did not provide a figure. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, said the group’s position is that women who are pregnant should engage in “an abundance of caution” to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

In Brazil, Zika virus infections in pregnant women have been linked to 3,893 births of babies with microcephaly compared to an average of about 160 a year, the World Health Organisation has said.

That reach includes parts of the southern United States, according to a map he presented at the briefing.

Cases of the virus, which is spread by the aedes mosquito, have since been reported in other countries in the Americas.

The Virginia Department of Health is alerting the public of the potential for contracting Zika virus while traveling overseas. Two were stillborn and four were live births, three of whom later died, the ministry said.

The Zika virus has spread through Latin America.

Health officials recommend covering up, using insect repellant and keeping windows closed or screened. They got the virus while traveling outside of NY.

Here’s what a few of the world’s largest airlines are doing in reaction to the outbreak.

“The mosquito is ubiquitous”, she said. AFP Graphic Design Whether you need a fresh business card design, rack card, ad, flyer or full magazine design, we can help with all your graphic-design needs.

The WHO emergency session on Zika is scheduled to take place on Monday.