The California Department of Public Health reported Thursday that two babies were born with microcephaly – a Zika-related condition – to women who had the virus after spending time in another country.
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The species of mosquito that carries the virus does not survive harsh winters in IL, but public health officials say they continue to trap and test mosquitos statewide just in case.
Florida will conduct an aerial insecticide spraying campaign at dawn on Wednesday in an effort to kill mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, officials in Miami-Dade County said.
Florida health officials said a one-square-mile neighborhood north of downtown – around Wynwood – remains the only area in the state with active, ongoing Zika transmission by mosquitoes.
In addition to actively monitoring all pregnant women infected with Zika, the babies born with microcephaly linked to the disease will receive medical treatment and monitoring for one year.
Earlier this week, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a travel alert for South Florida. Babies of pregnant moms who are infected with Zika have been known to develop serious birth defects, including smaller-than-normal heads.
State officials are also monitoring 393 cases linked to travel overseas, which include 55 cases involving pregnant women.
The virus is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also spreads several other unsafe tropical diseases.
“The mosquito that spreads the virus is not found in the United Kingdom, and in any case would not be able to establish in Scotland because of our climate. They also work with the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Lab to test mosquitos for the Zika and Dengue viruses”, said Gomez. The pentagon did not specify the countries where the virus was contracted by military members, but the virus has spread through much of Latin America and the Caribbean since its discovery in Brazil in May 2015. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito carries the Zika virus – and climate is a factor. Most people infected with the Zika virus do not become ill, and those who do become ill have symptoms that may include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
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“We’re doing everything we can and we will continue to be aggressive”, the governor said, reporting that the state has allocated $26.2 million as part of the emergency response for Zika. There is now no vaccine or treatment for Zika other than supportive care, rest, fluids and fever relief.
