In 16 countries where Zika virus is spreading locally, the risk of getting infected is likely to be minimal at these higher elevations since mosquitoes there are “predicted to be largely absent”, the report said.
Advertisement
“With the number of Zika outbreaks occurring in many parts of the world where West Virginians travel for vacation, business or mission work, the likelihood of a finding a Zika case in our state was foreseeable”, said Dr. Gupta in statement released Thursday.
The BPH has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal partners to monitor Zika virus testing and guidance at the local level. The Orange County man, who is in his 40s, did not get seriously ill and since has recovered, officials said.
Zika, an infectious viral illness, is primarily spread through the bite of a mosquito that carries the virus. This concerns health authorities because Zika may be linked to microcephaly, which causes babies to have unusually small heads and brain damage. The virus has also been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis in individuals who have been infected.
There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for Zika. The link with microcephaly and other possibly serious birth defects is growing stronger every day. Zika outbreaks have been reported by some 50 countries.
As of last week, there had been eight confirmed cases of Zika in California, including two in Los Angeles County.
Pregnant women who have recently traveled to an area with Zika virus should talk to a health care provider even if they don’t feel sick.
If confirmed, it would be the first death related to Zika in the Central American country where 15,732 suspected cases have so far been reported, including 185 pregnant women. “I urge everyone who is considering travel to a country with Zika transmission to be aware of the situation and take precautions to protect themselves and prevent mosquito bites”.
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
Last month President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.9 billion to fight the Zika virus.
Advertisement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s unable to predict how much the virus might spread in the continental United States.
