“As we have previously said, a confirmed case was never a question of “if”, but ‘when.’ Because of the preparatory steps we’ve taken previously, we are able to test more quickly and in-state”, DPH Commissioner Raul Pino said in a statement.
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“Under the PIDSR, all suspected Zika cases must be immediately reported to the DOH within 24 hours and undergo screening via the real-time polymerase chain reaction carried out by Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and other similar DOH facilities”, he added.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found cases where the virus has been sexually transmitted or spread via blood transfusion, the release said.
A Long Island hospital has opened a clinic for anxious parents-to-be who are concerned that they may have been infected with the Zika virus.
The CDC has also issued travel warnings for anyone headed to these countries where there is active mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus. In the other five cases, the patients became infected through sexual activity with a person who became infected while traveling.
Florida has the most cases of Zika virus infection in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported that as of March 16 there were 258 people confirmed with the disease.
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, according to the CDC.
The debate still rages on over what is the true cause of such birth defects and if these types of precautions over an outbreak of the Zika virus in the state is warranted. “We’ve developed a road map for a coordinated response by state agencies to any potential threat posed by Zika”, Gov. Malloy said at the time.
Even if Zika virus arrives in the United States, transmission can be mitigated.
Researchers believe Zika can cause complications in pregnant women with a possible link to a wide range of neurological disorders and birth defects.
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“Prudence dictates that we are planned for all circumstances, and that’s exactly what the Department of Health is doing”, Cuomo said. Kane County provides up to date information at www.kanehealth.com as well as facts about Zika.
