The American Red Cross has urged prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood, but said the risk of transmitting the virus through blood donations was “extremely” low in the continental United States.
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Authorities in Brazil, where a Zika outbreak has been linked to severe birth defects, on Thursday disclosed two cases of transmission tied to blood transfusions, adding to concerns over the spread of the virus.
Three people have died in Colombia after contracting the Zika virus, which is spreading across South America and has emerged in Europe and the US.
CDC Director Tom Frieden told a teleconference Friday that such fetal harm was “new phenomenon” but “the association is looking stronger and stronger”.
West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina have issued advisories for the Zika virus, urging caution, particularly for pregnant women traveling to areas where the disease is circulating.
Schaffner said uncertainties remain about sexual transmission of the virus, including how long a person might be able to transmit it or whether an infected person must have had symptomatic Zika in order to be able to transmit Zika through sex. Even if their partner is not pregnant, they may want to consider taking such steps, the CDC said.
Condom makers including Ansell Ltd are offering to help Zika-affected countries after the first case of the virus being sexually transmitted added to growing concerns over the spread of the disease.
Here is what we have recently learned – and what we still don’t know – about how Zika spreads.
An explosion of cases across Brazil and Latin America has prompted warnings against travel by pregnant women to the region and is even raising fears that travel to the Olympics, due to be held this August in Rio, will be disrupted.
It said pregnant women in affected countries must also have access to counselling and technology to make informed choices, including whether to abort foetuses with microcephaly. In addition, the revised guidelines address testing for women who reside in areas where Zika is spreading.
We can’t say that we are safe because there are certain factors at play that can lead to the transportation or importation of mosquitoes.
“Any persons concerned that they have been infected should contact their health care provider for evaluation”.
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The Fiocruz team studied samples from two patients who showed symptoms of Zika and tested positive for the illness. Pediatricians can refer to an algorithm the CDC developed in collaboration with the Academy.
