Currently, the CDC is telling men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas to abstain from sex or use a condom with a pregnant partner. World Health Organization expects to see more cases and further geographical spread.
Advertisement
“Here in California, and in the Bay Area, we’re privileged that we do not have conditions for transmission by mosquitoes of Zika”, he said.
“Women have to be particularly careful if they’re traveling to these areas, or if their [sexual] partners have traveled to these areas”, Raupp cautions. Nine countries are reporting an increased incidence of the rare Guillain-Barr syndrome, which can cause paralysis, or laboratory confirmation of Zika infection among those cases, Chan said.
“The mosquito is undoubtedly still the main driver of transmission”, he said.
“It’s critical that the public understand that it’s possible to have and as a result to transmit the virus while showing no symptoms”, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
Montgomery County officials confirmed the first case of Zika virus in the county Tuesday but downplayed the health risks to the general public.
The outbreak of Zika, which was thought to be a mosquito-borne flavivirus causing symptoms similar to flu, was first reported in Brazil in December of a year ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the virus a “global public health emergency.” .
Zika virus is spread primarily through bites from infected mosquitos, and is not considered contagious through casual contact.
The announcement comes after new studies strengthened the link between the Zika virus and the birth defect mircocephaly, which is characterized by an abnormally small head and brain.
The analysis of 574 microcephaly cases identified through a new ad hoc surveillance system for the birth defect found that microcephaly prevalence in the 15 Brazilian states with confirmed Zika virus transmission was significantly higher than in 4 states without Zika virus transmission: 2.8 cases per 10,000 live births compared with 0.6 per 10,000.
Motsoaledi reassured MPs that a secondary spread of the Zika virus was unlikely.
“The symptoms include fever, red eyes, muscle pain, joint pain, rash and headache and can last from three to seven days”, he told AFN viewers, noting that not everyone infected with Zika will experience symptoms.
For its part, in six territories has been detected an increase of cases of GBS possibly associated with virus: French Polynesia, Brazil, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela and Suriname.
Schuchat said it’s best to let couples and their doctors make decisions about a man’s travel.
Advertisement
During the meeting, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan spoke about how people can – and should – protect themselves from Zika (as prevention is key).
