Missouri Health Officials Confirm 7th Case of Zika Virus

The data reveals that, over the past two decades, these species have expanded their ranges in the U.S. Originally found primarily in the southwest and south east areas, they have now moved North to the mid-Atlantic states as far north as New England.

During the conference, Blumenthal said educating people to stop the proliferation of mosquitoes is a major step toward ending the spread of diseases like Zika. Any standing water in buckets or planters or other similar items that are outdoors should be removed, and residents can call 311 if they need assistance with water removal.

“We really don’t know how good it is at transmitting the virus under normal conditions”, Clay said. The disease is commonly much milder than for infections with the related Dengue, West-Nile or Japanese encephalitis viruses. News 4’s Pei-Sze Cheng reports. Women who have traveled to Zika-threatened regions of the world have been cautioned to avoid pregnancy until they are tested for the virus. “We’re going to keep you informed of what we know”. The virus has been linked to a spike in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and possible neurological damage, sparking global concern.

Health officials recommend using bug spray and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and they urge the purging of standing water by emptying buckets, birdbaths, flower pots and the like to eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds.

There are many things about the summer months that we can usually anticipate – warmer temperatures, rainfall, the arrival of mosquitoes.

Benny Rosado of Bridgeport (far right) talks with Jonathan James of the Bridgeport Health Department (center) and U.S. Sen.

A recent study conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified several genetic pathways that is crucial for transmission of Zika virus and other flaviviruses like it.

Although public health leaders say a vaccine could be years away, pharmacists, doctors and clinicians are being urged to kick-start patient outreach and public awareness campaigns. The World Health Organization declared the Zika virus an global public health emergency in February, the same month officials identified the first US infection, USA Today reported.

One of our favourite holiday destinations has been added to the list of countries plagued by the Zika virus.

If you have booked a holiday to a destination where there is an outbreak of Zika virus and you don’t want to travel, your right to change or get a refund for your trip will depend on how you booked it and what your circumstances are.

In Decatur, Heath Legg, owner of Superior Mosquito Defense, said they’re treating about 200 homes in the area per week and expect that to climb to about 300 per week before mosquito season ends in early October.