The CDC suspects 10 other cases of Zika in pregnant women that have already took medical tests and await the results. Two others elected to terminate their pregnancies.
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Public Health Minister Roberto Morales said this week that while no case of Zika has been found in Cuba, “the risk of introduction of Zika into the country is high”.
On Friday, the CDC updated its interim guidelines for the United States health care providers caring for infants born to mothers who travelled to or resided in areas with Zika virus transmission during pregnancy and expanded guidelines to include infants and children with possible acute Zika virus disease. As there is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus disease, we must protect the European Region by stopping the disease at its source.
There are now Zika virus warnings in place in 34 countries and territories around the world, according to the latest CDC data. Health officials expect Zika could infect almost 4 million people as Brazil prepares for the August Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Six of the women reported Zika symptoms during their first trimester, and their outcomes reflect expert opinion that early infection can be more devastating to the developing fetus than infection later in pregnancy. However, in May of this year, “the health department in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco issued an alert to doctors, reporting a spike in babies with brain defects causing microcephaly”, the Globe and Mail reported. Therefore, positive or inconclusive tests should be followed up with additional screening to confirm a Zika diagnosis. USA soccer player Hope Solo on Thursday said she may no longer join the team in the Olympics because of the growing concern.
Zika is primarily spread by mosquito bites, and transmission through sex was thought to be extremely rare.
Those numbers reflect confirmed cases as of February 17.
“CDC recommends that pregnant women consider not travelling to the Olympics”, the advisory issued stated.
Since the illness’ symptoms are usually mild – typically fever, rash, joint pain or pink eye – some people might not realize they have been infected, according to the department. The Zika virus was detected in the amniotic fluid. The current outbreak originated in Brazil in 2015 and later spread across Latin America.
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CDC researchers also are investigating four probable cases of sexually transmitted Zika virus in non-traveling women.
