Brazil has declared a public health emergency over Zika, which may be linked to thousands of cases of the microcephaly birth defect that is marked by undersized heads and underdeveloped brains.
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State public health officials have identified the first case of Zika virus infection in Montana in an adult from Missoula County who returned from a Zika-affected area.
Statewide, there have been six confirmed Zika cases so far this year, but a spokesman for the state’s Department of Public Health said he could not confirm the location of each case, for privacy reasons.
No vaccine now exists to prevent Zika virus disease.
Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
Sonoma County Deputy Health Officer Karen Holbrook also said there is no local transmission by two types of mosquitoes that have been found to carry the virus.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for those visiting countires affected by the Zika virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that pregnant women avoid traveling to Zika-affected regions this spring, including South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Pacific islands, and US territories.
Brazillian authorities have reported hundreds of cases of children born with microcephaly amid a large outbreak of the virus across South America.
The CDC says it continues to evaluate all available evidence, and it will update recommendations as new information becomes available.
The woman is not pregnant and has recovered from the illness, said Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, during a conference call Tuesday afternoon. “Sexual transmission is less common”.
It can take from three to 12 days for symptoms such as fever, joint or muscle pain, headaches, skin rash or conjunctivitis to appear after catching the virus.
The mosquito transmits the Zika virus and is being studied at the institute.
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The two Colorado cases highlight the need to exercise caution when traveling to areas where Zika is spreading and to use mosquito repellent while visiting those countries, Rowe said.
