Blood banks in the USA have been urged to reject donations from people who have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is active or from those who have had a confirmed infection with a potential exposure to the virus.
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The FDA also recommends that areas considered active Zika transmission zones within the United States, which include the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, use blood for transfusion from the US mainland, where the virus is not circulating.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there have been reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with the Zika virus while pregnant.
He added: “I don’t think there’s any thought that this will come to Britain… the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus is present in much of South America and Central America”. What is less clear is whether that transmission causes the recipient to become ill. FDA said individual donors from areas affected with Zika should wait for at least four weeks before donating blood.
“We believe the new recommendations will help reduce the risk of collecting blood and blood components from donors who may be infected with the Zika virus”, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s biologics division, said in a statement. Even more assuring, The World Health Organization (WHO) have said that scientists are weeks away from confirming the Zika-microcephaly link.
“This study can not determine whether the Zika virus identified in these two cases was the cause of microcephaly in the babies”.
Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria told Reuters in an interview the Andean country may revise downward its projection of Zika-linked microcephaly cases because the deformity should have manifested in fetuses by now.
The survey done by University of Florida’s tourism crisis management initiative showed that Americans are keen to travel overseas but want more information about the Zika virus. One case of the virus being transmitted sexually has been reported in Texas, highlighting an additional danger that blood and other bodily fluids pose.
The Zika virus has been known to researchers since 1947 but was not regarded as a risk until recently as it was generally associated with mild symptoms.
They said the chemical will be suspended immediately when there is clear scientific basis connecting it to microcephaly. Over 90% of those who were planning to travel overseas said they wouldn’t change their plans because of Zika.
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One more case of travel-related Zika virus has been confirmed, bringing the statewide number to 22, according to the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday.
