Their work is part of an worldwide race to understand the risks associated with Zika, a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne virus thought to be linked to thousands of cases of birth defects in Brazil.
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The microcephaly cases have been centred in north-east Brazil, but the Zika outbreak has affected people in more than 20 countries in the Americas. FASTER THAN EBOLA In line with CDC guidance, Wal Mart Stores Inc, American Express Co and snack-maker Mondelez International Inc have told workers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to consult with health professionals before visiting any of the 26 countries and territories where Zika is active. He said the mosquitoes that carried also transmitted chikungunya viruses.
Researchers have confirmed more than 460 of these cases as microcephaly and identified evidence of Zika infection in 41 of these cases, but have not proven Zika can cause microcephaly.
The WHO’s updated guidance urges pregnant women to consider avoiding travel to areas reporting local Zika virus transmission and to discuss travel plans with their doctors.
China confirmed its first imported case of Zika virus on Tuesday.
While there’s a lot of attention on the Zika virus, Olson believes there’s still a lot we don’t know.
Kieny said Zika-hit areas also have experienced increased cases of the neurological disease Guillain-Barre, adding: “The direct causality has still to be demonstrated but the association in time and in location seems to be clear”.
Masood said there was a link between Zika fever and neurologic conditions in infected adults, including cases of the Guillain-Barré syndrome. If they must go, they should have an ultrasound test after their return whether they suspect they might have been infected with the Zika virus or not. He said that Brazil and Columbia are the most affected countries with estimated cases ranging between 600,000 and 1,700,000.
Follow-up testing of the man found traces of viral genetic material in his semen 27 days and 62 days after he first reported symptoms of the infection, which included fever, lethargy, and a rash.
There is no treatment or vaccine available for Zika infection. Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in seven counties, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided test kits and other materials to the Sunshine State, as well as training for health professionals.
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In a statement, the agency noted that the virus was not spread by person-to-person contact, “though a small number of cases of sexual transmission have been documented”. Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, with complications that include developmental delays, stunted growth, seizures and mental retardation.
