In the absence of a vaccine for Zika virus, Andreadis said community involvement is necessary, including eliminating standing water from your property.
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“When traveling to countries where Zika virus or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and trousers, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens”.
The state lab is certified to test for Zika and confirmed the diagnosis.
Of the cases confirmed to date in Florida, four people are still exhibiting symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes lasting seven to 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While officials have not reported any local cases yet, on February 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a public health emergency of global concern.
Zika virus is spread primarily through mosquito bites, though it also can spread from men to women through sexual transmission.
In Brazil, there was mounting evidence linking Zika infection in pregnant women to a rare birth defect called microcephaly, in which a newborn’s head is smaller than normal and the brain may not have developed properly. So far, it’s swept though South and Central America, into Mexico and across the Caribbean.
The DPH will also be handing out information brochures at Bradley International Airport to people traveling to those areas.
There have been 40 cases reported in New York City, including six pregnant women.
Women who become infected or who have traveled to those countries should wait eight weeks after returning or after symptoms disappear to become pregnant. Fearon said the peak time for Zika-related travel among Canadians is most likely the winter months, but that the deferral program could present a “challenging time” during the busy summer season when blood donations are often badly needed.
The woman conceived while visiting a Central American country, was tested while back in CT and has since returned to Central America.
Scientists believe the virus to be responsible for a surge in Brazilian infants born with microcephaly.
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“There is now scientific consensus that the Zika virus is linked to severe fetal malformations and serious disorders of the central nervous system and is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome”, the United Nations said.
