The Zika virus can be found in parts of Africa, southern Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas, and may also be present in other countries that have the mosquitoes that are able to spread it.
Advertisement
Last month, Nebraska had its first report of travel-related Zika virus involving two women in their 20s who traveled to countries affected by the virus.
Councilor-At-Large Michael Smith asked Kreidler what the latest news was about Zika spreading to the United States. Pregnant women or their partners who must travel to places with the virus should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, according to health officials. “And I think in this case, clearly a virus that causes birth defects that is emerging and that is vector-borne is clearly a need”. Because the virus can also be sexually transmitted, health officials are cautioning against having sex with people who have been to those countries.
The Napa County Public Health Department said the woman had traveled to Central America and is not showing symptoms of Zika virus infection.
Regions have been ordered to clean up public venues as the weather is becoming warmer, which means mosquito-born viruses, including Zika, and other infections may spread easier.
A private physician tested the patient for the virus, and they came back positive for Zika.
Investigations are underway into a possible case of sexual transmission of Zika virus in New Zealand. However, a Zika virus epidemic is unlikely in the 48 contiguous states due to the widespread use of air conditioning, lower density of housing, and availability and use of mosquito repellents.
– Anyone who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant should consider delaying travel to an affected area.
In addition, Merlin said there is a possibility that eventually, people who have traveled to Zika-infected countries might not be allowed to donate blood because it might prove too hard to run assays on the whole blood supply in order to avoid contamination.
Zika is most commonly transmitted by the aedes mosquito but has been transmitted via blood and sexual fluids.
The outbreak of Zika in Brazil, first detected a year ago, has been linked to 4,863 confirmed and suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.
Advertisement
Common symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, according to the CDC. As more information becomes available, the understanding of the risks to recipients of HCT/Ps, including HCT/Ps recovered from deceased donors, may evolve.
