With the first case of Zika virus identified in the commonwealth, Gov. Matt Bevin and state health officials say it’s time to make sure residents are educated about the mosquito-borne disease. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is spreading the virus in much of Latin America and the Caribbean, will likely become increasingly abundant across much of the southern and eastern USA as the weather warms, the study said. Researchers are studying whether there is a link between the virus and microcephaly, a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than normal.
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According to Bill Meredith, DNREC’s Environmental Program Administrator for the Mosquito Control Section, Delaware’s Asian tiger mosquitoes may be capable of transmitting Zika.
Garin said that only suspected cases will be tested for Zika virus despite persistent calls for the conduct of mass testing by the DOH.
We spoke with one pregnant woman in Madison who made a decision to cancel her March trip to Florida fearing any risk of the Zika virus. Murphy noted there is no vaccine to prevent Zika infection, and no medicine to treat the virus. But should those traveling, be concerned about the Zika Virus? Across Florida, Miami-Dade records the most number of Zika Cases with 28 confirmed cases as of Monday. Authorities there say they think most of these cases are related to Zika.
Currently, the only US cases of the virus are the result of travel.
“I personally think that we aren’t going to have probably enough infected people and enough of the right mosquitoes to have a sustained epidemic, if you will”.
That’s because the Zika virus, after a widespread outbreak in Brazil in early 2015, has been linked to a spike in microcephaly in babies born in the virus-affected areas.
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Brazil has been hardest hit by the Zika Virus, with some 1.5 million people infected and 745 confirmed cases of microcephaly. “Pregnant women should discuss their male partner’s potential exposures to mosquitoes and history of Zika-like illness with their health care provider”. For a list of areas actively transmitting Zika, check here. There are different cases of microcephaly aside from that caused by Zika. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. In Alabama, experts advise residents to take serious precautions against mosquitoes – like eliminate pools of stagnant water, stay in screened-in or air conditioned rooms, wear long sleeved shirts and trousers, and always apply mosquito repellent.
