More airlines offer Zika refunds to pregnant women

There is no vaccine against the virus or treatment for those infected, but almost all recover shortly after contracting it.

He says the only known way the virus is passed is through mosquito bites. If you are pregnant and have travelled to a country where Zika is ongoing, contact your health care provider if you experience the following symptoms: fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes).

The Pacific Northwest does not have this particular species of mosquito and officials at OHA said local transmission here is unlikely.

“Chan explained that a causal relationship between the virus infection, and birth malformations and neurological syndromes has not yet been established, but is strongly suspected”, Dujarric said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have not been any locally transmitted Zika cases reported in the United States, but there have been cases reported in returning travelers.

These concerns are why scientists Daniel R. Lucey and Lawrence O. Gostin wrote that an emergency committee should be quickly assembled to determine if the crisis should be labeled a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The World Health Organization is warning that there could be 3 to 4 million cases of Zika virus in the Americas over the next year.

At least 31 people in the USA who’d traveled overseas have been diagnosed including an expectant mom in NYC.

“We will see little mini-outbreaks like in Florida or in Texas that can be well-controlled with mosquito vector control”.

Dr. Saul, like most health experts, including the head of the CDC says the risk of a Zika outbreak in the U.S.is small due to the climate, where controlling the mosquito population is easier and the availability of air-conditioning.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called for Latin America to launch a region-wide fight against the Zika virus, blamed for a surge in brain-damaged babies, as alarm rose over the world’s latest health scare. And some, including neighboring Colombia and Brazil, have recommended that women consider postponing pregnancies. Last week, its deputy health minister urged women to refrain from getting pregnant before 2018.

Air Canada says it is allowing passengers and companions in their immediate family to change bookings or receive a refund if they cancel flights because of concerns about the Zika virus outbreak.