OR confirms case of travel-associated Zika virus

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District confirmed two additional cases of Zika in Bexar County. Microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age, is now linked to the virus.

The unidentified Yolo County resident who tested positive for the virus had recently traveled out of the country and only has a mild case of the virus, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the CDC.

Zika can be transmitted by the aedes mosquito, which is common in tropical climates but exists in low concentrations in Northern California.

The mosquito has not been found in Kentucky – and no cases of Zika have been reported in the commonwealth.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid traveling to southern areas where mosquitoes can spread the disease.

Scientific journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Science and The Lancet, pledged to “make all content concerning the Zika virus free to access”.

“Then it would be nice to be able to say you are beyond the stage and development where there is concern”, Petit said.

Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether it may cause birth defects or other neurological problems.

Pregnant women should not travel to Zika-affected areas.

Health officials in Guangdong urged people to guard against the illness during dengue season, and vowed to step up efforts to ensure early detection, said Xinhua.

The CDC said the virus lasts longer in semen than in blood.

Data needs to be shared as quickly as possible, she said, “to address all these questions concurrently”.

“This agreement is a very important step…and it is excellent to see the lessons we learnt from Ebola being put into place”, she said.

Pregnant women who are now residing, traveling or have recently traveled to any of the Zika identified “hot spots” are particularly at risk for infection from the virus.

Even so, Mumford said she plans on having her property sprayed for protection against mosquitoes in April since there are many retaining ponds in her neighborhood, which are breeding grounds for mosquito eggs.