Illinois health officials report third case of Zika virus

“Nigerians working at various ports of entry into the country should interview anyone coming from any of the Latin American countries for evidence Zika virus symptoms”, said Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.

DSHS recommends travelers avoid mosquito bites while overseas and for seven days after returning, in case they have been exposed to Zika virus.

While everyone is at risk for the virus, spread through mosquito bites, Dr. Jennifer Boukouris, an ER doctor at Southfield’s Providence Hospital, says pregnant women are more at risk. Taylor said he was not aware of any pregnant women in Canada infected.

The Colombian Health Ministry has said that Zika infection falls within the health requirements that women must meet to get abortions in the country, which restricts the procedure unless patients are victims of rape, have significant medical problems or the fetus is fatally deformed.

However, Arruda added, “this virus may cause serious complications in babies carried by an infected mother during pregnancy”.

Brazil is seeing a wave of such birth defects.

“Following these protections is important for individuals, especially pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, who are planning to travel to areas where we know the Zika virus is now a threat”, said Megan Sheppard, Health Officer of the Cumberland County Department of Health.

Zika virus has been tentatively linked to 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil, a condition that results in abnormally small heads and brains in newborns. The mosquito transmits the Zika virus and is being studied at the institute.

For more information about the virus, go to the CDC’s website, or go to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

To prevent a possible spread of the virus to the country, the Health Ministry have taken preventive measures meant to reinforce the epidemiological surveillance system to detect potential cases from affected countries, the statement noted.

Dr. Weems says make sure you don’t have stagnant water outside your home where mosquitoes can breed and use bug spray. “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.