But in Texas, officials discovered the first US case of sexually transmitted Zika virus.
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“With everything we’ve got going on this is just good time to just go somewhere to relax”, said Julie Shebarshov.
Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a health emergency in four counties Wednesday after at least nine cases of Zika were detected in the state.
The emergency order authorizes the state’s agriculture department to take action to combat the problem, such as spraying against mosquitoes in the areas.
Until now, however, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn’t issued guidance about preventing Zika sexual transmission, citing a lack of evidence.
Dr Yong Puworawan, head of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, revealed that Zika can be transmitted via mosquito bite but also by sexual intercourse and breast feeding.
A pregnant woman in Spain who had travelled to Colombia has the Zika virus – in what is thought to be the first such case in Europe.
The outbreak in Brazil, which began in May of a year ago, led to reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and other “poor pregnancy outcomes”, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Argentina is rbueporting a second person in the country is confirmed to be infected with Zika.
As the outbreak quickly spreads across the Americas, health ministers from South America gathered in Uruguay to discuss how the region could coordinate its fight against the virus.
So far, there have been few cases of Zika found in North America. Illness typically resolves within a week. Those who do usually develop a fever, a rash, and some pain.
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“In these areas, women who are pregnant need to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using repellants, permethrin-coated clothing, long sleeves and trousers, and by staying indoors (ideally in places with air conditioning) as much as is practical”, Frieden wrote.
