The maps, the first update in a dozen years from the CDC, are not meant to show the projected spread of the disease, but rather locations where the mosquitoes that can transmit Zika now live or have previously been found.
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The summit, held at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, provided officials with information and tools to improve Zika preparedness and response within the state.
During the meeting, Dr. Jeffrey Levin with the Smith County Health Authority gave an update on the spread of the Zika Virus in the United States.
There is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika virus, which causes symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes lasting from a week to 10 days, according to the CDC. That condition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, is a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.
In the latest efforts toward educating the public and spreading concern about Zika, two different public arenas attracted attention on Friday, the White House and Elmo along with other Sesame Street pals. Lazear said economic and lifestyle factors in the USA make an outbreak similar to the one in Latin America unlikely.
It is especially risky for pregnant women.
– San Mateo County confirmed their first case of Zika virus Friday. “The goal of today’s summit is to bring all of those practices together in one place, give folks sort of the menu of options, so that they can develop a comprehensive plan well in advance of when we see mosquitoes biting around the continental United States”, she said. “Residents should stay current on worldwide travel alerts for countries where Zika virus is circulating, particularly women who are or may become pregnant”.
Brazil, the country hardest hit by the Zika virus, is facing another health problem – a swine flu outbreak – with the Olympics it is hosting just months away. On Monday, Brito is to meet with health care providers and pregnant women in Vineland.
Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Disease, said USA mosquito abatement is handled by a “patchwork” of mosquito-control districts that are coordinated and funded locally.
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Congress has said the CDC should use any remaining Ebola funds to fight Zika, but Frieden and others said that would not be sufficient. “At the end of this summit we expect states will go back home with action plans in hand and we intend to provide resources”, said Amy Pope, deputy assistant to the President and deputy homeland security adviser on the National Security Council staff of the White House.
