Three cases of Zika virus found in NYS

“Because there is no treatment for Zika virus at this time, women should be counseled about all options available to them”, he said. Genetic material from the virus has been found in the bodies of babies with microcephaly that miscarried and in babies born with microcephaly – but just a few. Authorities have also advised pregnant women to not travel to countries where the virus is spreading.

“We’re recommending that women who may get pregnant plan their pregnancies and try to avoid getting pregnant this year and the next”, Eduardo Espinoza told CNNEspanol Thursday.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stated that it supports the new travel guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the mosquito-born Zika virus. The former could put a strain on the Olympics in Rio which is expecting thousands of spectators from around the globe.

Forty-nine babies with suspected microcephaly have died, Brazil’s health ministry said.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus in the same class as West Nile and dengue fever, but much less is known about it, said Mark Slifka, a senior scientist at Oregon Health & Science University.

Since it’s not clear if the virus even causes microcephaly, it’s not at all clear what the risks are to a pregnant woman or her baby.

Until recently, the condition was so rare that Brazil’s health ministry did not require regional officials to report it. But a year ago, the authorities in northeast Brazil counted hundreds of cases of Guillain-Barre, prompting doctors to sound the alarm.

-One in five people infected with the Zika virus become ill and may develop symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eye), headaches and muscle pain.

The Zika Virus outbreak started in Brazil and has moved north into tropical locations such as Puerto Rico and Mexico. So far no cases of newborns suffering from microcephaly have been recorded.

“Have long sleeve shirts and trousers, wearing mosquito repellant, DEET is actually okay during pregnancy as look as you follow the normal guidelines”, said Dr. Kappenman.

In recent weeks, the CDC has issued travel advisories that recommend no travel to Brazil for pregnant women or women hoping to conceive. The symptoms typically begin 2 to 7 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.

World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier said 3,893 microcephaly cases have been reported in Brazil, along with 49 deaths. The risk to pregnant women is thought to be greatest if she contracts the virus during the first trimester of pregnancy.