WHO says delaying pregnancy option for women in Zika areas

The guidance was originally issued last week but did not garner wide notice among experts until Thursday, when the World Health Organization issued a clarification, distinguishing between people who visit Zika-affected countries and those who live in them.

“The latest reports from the Florida Department of Health suggest that there have been 50 cases of Zika in Miami-Dade County alone, while the state of Florida accounts for 21 percent of all Zika cases in the United States according to the CDC”, Curbelo said. For that reason, people who experience high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, severe headaches, or a stiff neck should see a doctor immediately.

The virus is thought to cause birth defects like microcephaly, which prevents the growth of a baby’s head and sometimes its brain.

The woman had mild Zika-like symptoms, similar to those for dengue and chikungunya, from May 11 to 13, according to Dr. Williams-Rodriguez.

“It’s not saying they should delay”. For those traveling to countries affected by Zika, we urge caution. But there is concern that the onset of mosquito season will increase the risk of the virus being contracted from insect bites in Florida.

Still, Frieden and the CDC recommend pregnant women don’t go to the Olympics. “I think we should be mobilizing a national public health response because we face a national public health challenge”, he said.

Through September, 37 specialized mosquito traps will move around the county; it’s one of the ways health official are assessing and controlling the mosquito population. Bill Nelson filed legislation Thursday aimed at steering an additional $130 million annually to local mosquito control boards to eliminate the the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus.

Zika usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week; after that, making a diagnosis can be more hard. It has been linked to birth defects.

“When we find an active case of zika, we do everything we can to stop any mosquitoes around there”, said Scott.

Officials said one case involves a male Missouri resident who traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been seven confirmed cases of Zika in Iowa, with the first in February and the most recent occurring on June 3. The Vector Control program has been catching mosquitoes over the past several years to monitor for vector-borne diseases and the Zika virus will be added to this list of diseases to watch for. More than 1,350 people have tested positive for Zika since the beginning of the epidemic here, including 168 pregnant women.