In the meantime, tropical Southeast Asian countries said on Friday they were bracing for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, with Malaysia saying it could “spread quickly” if introduced, but Thailand appeared to be bucking the trend with just a handful of cases a year.
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Neither of the two types of mosquitoes believed capable of spreading the Zika virus lives in Washington state or any of its neighbors, so state residents’ biggest risk of contracting it remains infection during travel elsewhere, a state entomologist said Thursday.
However, Schuchat added that “the science is very clear to date: that Zika virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito”.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning pregnant women against travel to those areas; health officials in several of those countries are telling female citizens to avoid becoming pregnant, in some cases for up to two years. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eye).
American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines are allowing some customers to cancel or postpone trips to areas affected by Zika, amid growing concern about the mosquito-born virus.
The latest health scare to get global attention in the media is a mosquito-borne virus known as the Zika virus that has struck many nations in South and Central America, but what is it exactly?
The U.S. Defense Department is offering voluntary relocation to pregnant employees and their beneficiaries who are stationed in affected areas.
Microcephaly is when a newborn is born with a small head.
Pregnant women – or women who are planning to become pregnant – are at the greatest risk.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says that since the recent spread of the virus began he has been applying double the bug spray and sporting long sleeves when he goes on his weekend bike ride near his country home down the mountain from mosquito-free Bogota.
The WHO’s regional office in the Americas said Monday the most effective ways to stop the virus from spreading are to reduce mosquito breeding sites and for people to protect themselves from bites with insect repellent, nets, screens and clothing that covers as much of the body as possible. Brazil has reported 3,700 cases of suspected microcephaly that may be linked to Zika. Following major eradication efforts, it was declared free of the mosquito in 1958. It is now present in 23 countries and territories in the region.
Aedes Aegypti mosquito carries Zika virus which is suspected to cause brain damage in babies.
The Aedes mosquito spreads diseases including Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya.
Cabrera said a major problem was that the only person who could organize a meeting to declare a public health emergency was the director-general of the WHO.
“This is where an worldwide organization with all the resources and the expertise that the WHO has can really help steer a cohesive response to Zika”, Cabrera said.
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“Right now we’re working with healthcare providers to educate them on what the symptoms are, what the signs are, and when to contact public health to get testing arranged”, said Dr. Cara Christ, Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
