Research begins into possibility of a vaccine for Zika virus
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who contract the Zika virus do not even know they have it, show no symptoms and recover without incident.
The U.S. cases have all been travelers who returned from a country where the transmission of Zika virus from mosquitoes to humans is ongoing.
Pregnant women should take the virus seriously and do everything to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes carrying it. For everyone else, there is no serious concern, according to infectious disease specialists and public health officials. Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes and can last from a few days to about a week.
Since Zika, a flu-like disease that originated in Africa, arrived in Latin America a year ago, there has been a jump in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, a birth defect that can cause brain damage and death. This warning comes after reports of an increase amount of infants born in Brazil with unusually small heads and other poor pregnancy outcomes.
Officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil have suggested women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed. Two pregnant women in IL have reportedly contracted the virus, while other cases are starting to pop up in Florida. Meg Mirivel at the ADH office of communications said the person was not advised to be quarantined because the virus was past the infectious stage, which is a week to 10 days.
Smith added that Arkansas has the kind of mosquitoes that carry Zika virus.
There have been 3,893 reported cases of microcephaly in Brazilian babies since October compared with the previous annual average of just 160 cases.
Canadian and US health authorities advise pregnant women to consider avoiding or postponing travel to South and Central America and parts of the Caribbean.
Brazil’s government says it will deploy 220,000 soldiers in its fight against mosquitoes spreading the virus.
Cases have been reported in Puerto Rico.
US health officials previously issued guidance for doctors whose patients may have traveled to regions affected by the virus.
Women trying to become pregnant who are thinking about becoming pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip.