Zika virus is ‘spreading explosively’ throughout the Americas, WHO says

Hoven also says there is a possibility we may see the Zika virus testing positively in South Dakota residents, especially those that travel overseas.

However, officials went on to say that there is much that isn’t known about the virus, and that out of an “abundance of caution” they would be monitoring any possible transmission. Several U.S. travelers have reportedly gotten the virus after returning from Central America and South America.

State health officials have confirmed a case of the Zika virus in MA.

However, President Obama called a meeting Tuesday with top health and national security officials to discuss tests and vaccines.

The news comes as reports of babies born with microcephaly, a rare condition in which infants have abnormally small heads and damaged brains, is rising in Brazil.

Zika is spread by mosquitoes and in most people causes no more than mild illness.

The CDC has advised pregnant women to avoid travel to countries where outbreaks are present, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an advisory on the virus last week.

While Zika generally causes mild symptoms like fever, feeling unwell, a rash, red eyes, and joint pain – or in the majority of people, no symptoms at all – in may cause birth defects.

“There is no risk of acquiring the Zika virus in New York City”.

“The vast majority of people who contract Zika do not get seriously ill, and recover quickly when they do”, Scott Zoback, spokesman for the BPHC, said in a statement. As of today cases have been reported in 23 countries and territories in the region.

She added that Venezuela had also recorded 90 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause paralysis or even death. “We are not in a period of activity for the Aedes mosquito, the vector of the virus, which falls between May and November”.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says the Zika virus – suspected of being connected to microcephaly – hopefully can be kept at bay with “mosquito vector control”.