If or when Zika is locally transmitted, for those who are not expecting, the virus is usually mild and not a danger to future births.
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Hospitalization rates are low and most people fully recover.
The Zika virus, which is rapidly spreading in central and South America, can cause birth defects. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, meaning it can be hard to tell if a pregnant woman has been infected.
Loren Robinson, deputy secretary for health promotion and disease prevention at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said pregnant women should take caution when planning a vacation.
Fauci said controlling mosquitoes that could carry Zika is key, and the United States has one big advantage.
The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil.
More than 20 countries in Latin America have now been affected, and it is likely to spread to other countries in Asia and Africa where Aedes mosquitos live. In Brazil, an outbreak of Zika cases in expectant mothers over the last several months has coincided with almost 4,000 potential cases of microcephaly, which is a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development.
But the virus can be very serious for women of child-bearing age.
There is now no vaccine or cure for Zika.
The CDC recommends pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing.
It’s still unclear whether the virus has actually been spread through blood products, Philpott said, adding information on that likelihood would be made public when it became available.
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“We are closely monitoring the situation and all necessary steps have been initiated to ensure that India is well prepared in case of any eventuality”, Mr. Nadda said.
