The Ministry of Health is coordinating closely with the WHO to monitor the spread of the disease.
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Pregnant women beware. While contraction of Zika rarely results in hospitalization, the virus is linked to a birth defect, microcephaly, which causes babies to develop abnormally small heads.
“We’d like to suggest to all the women of fertile age that they take steps to plan their pregnancies, and avoid getting pregnant between this year and next”, said Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza.
According to the CDC, the Zika virus is actively spreading in two dozen countries, including the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pregnant women have been advised not to travel to certain areas to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, including Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Saint Martin and Mexico, among others.
“The symptoms are common symptoms; fever, joint pain, pink-eye and a rash”.
Experts say most people don’t experience severe symptoms when dealing with the virus.
Zika virus, first detected in Uganda’s Zika forest in 1947, is transmitted to humans through the “Aedes mosquito” which is also the main carrier of dengue fever.
The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed the first reported Zika virus infection in a Virginia resident. World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned the virus is spreading “explosively” in the Americas. High risk countries are Brazil, Haiti and Colombia, and countries within South and Central America. Additionally, at least four confirmed cases of Zika virus have been reported in the United States – three in NY and one in Boston.
Mosquitoes become infected with the Zika virus when they feed on a person who has it. The newly infected mosquitoes then transmit the virus to the next person it bites.
The Zika virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis.
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And the State Secretary of Health said Pennsylvanians shouldn’t worry if they aren’t traveling, especially during this time of year. As there is no vaccine yet for Zika, pregnant women are at risk as their babies could be born with the rare condition.
