Iowa Confirms First Zika Case

WHO Assistant Director General Dr. Bruce Aylward, lead official on outbreaks and health emergencies, says the number of suspected Zika cases continues to rise in the Americas.

In addition to the risk to pregnant woman, the CDC is also investigating potential links between Zika and the neurological condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first case of Zika virus infection in an N.C. resident. People often have trouble remembering every detail from six months ago – for example, when they might have been bitten by mosquitoes, the primary source of Zika infections.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation’s Zika response team is predicting that Brazil will host a “fantastic Olympics” and that the mosquito-borne virus will be “way down” by the time the Games begin in Rio de Janeiro on August 5.

The WHO declared the Zika outbreak, which has spread to almost 30 countries and territories, an global health emergency on February 1.

Officials said they expect the women to give birth in June and they will look for signs of an increase in microcephaly. The World Health Organization recently announced that Zika’s link to microcephaly could become clearer within weeks. For those who do, it is usually a mild illness with symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory recommending pregnant women consider postponing travel to any area with active Zika virus transmission.

Babies whose mothers are infected with the virus at the start of their pregnancies are at a higher risk of developing the debilitating disorder, said Aylward. But how big of a concern is Zika virus for Asia?

The Aedes mosquito that transmits the Zika virus in South America also transmits dengue fever and yellow fever, but these viruses were not found in South Africa, indicating that the local Aedes mosquito did not contribute to the spread of the Zika virus.

Ontarians travelling to regions affected with Zika virus should protect themselves by taking protective measures to prevent mosquito bites and consult their health care provider before traveling.

The first confirmed case of the Zika virus has been identified in Iowa. “It’s important to do as much education as possible”.

Colombia has now registered more than 37,000 cases of people infected with Zika, including more than 6,300 pregnant women, the country’s National Institute of Health reported Saturday.