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16 travel-associated cases in Florida

The White House said its request for money would go toward expanding mosquito control programmes, speeding up research into a vaccine, enhancing diagnostic capabilities and helping Zika-affected countries in their fight to reduce transmissions, the White House said.

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The problem is there isn’t much information about the virus, considered by many to be a silent illness because many people don’t have symptoms.

Sandusky said the USOC had held internal discussions with American sports leaders about the potential risks that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had identified with travel to Zika-infested areas. They say Zika-carrying mosquitoes are tough to reach with sprays because they breed so close to homes.

The Level 1 activation is “reflecting the agency’s assessment of the need for an accelerated preparedness to bring together experts to focus intently and work efficiently in anticipation of local Zika virus transmission by mosquitoes”, the agency said in a statement.

Zika’s march is unsettling to see, of course, particularly for pregnant women or those hoping to become pregnant.

The Zika virus, which is “primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes“, also spreads Chikungunya and dengue, other risky diseases according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the epicenter of the Zika virus outbreak – a mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to birth defects in newborns – there are growing concerns regarding travel to Brazil. More than 4,000 cases of the condition have been confirmed in Brazil since October. The disease can cause fever, rash, muscle aches, joint pain and red eyes.

Zika typically causes mild flu-like symptoms.

One case of the virus was confirmed on St. Croix in January, and although the Health Department has not received results yet on other suspected cases, it is preparing for an outbreak, according to Deputy Health Commissioner Kim Jones.

In addition, because there have been some cases in which Zika has been transmitted through sexual contact, the CDC is advising men who have traveled to areas where Zika is rampant not to have unprotected sex with their partners if they are pregnant.

Davis says the most important thing you can do is educate yourself on ways to avoid things that can attract more mosquitoes.

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Frieden is very careful not to say it’s impossible that Zika could spread through saliva or kissing, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says it is unlikely.

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