The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency on February 1 this year after a massive outbreak in Brazil where many pregnant women had children born with serious birth defects.
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The Obama administration on Friday declared a public health emergency in the USA territory of Puerto Rico, saying the rapid and widespread transmission of the Zika virus threatens the health of infected pregnant women and their babies. Since then no microcephaly cases have been reported, but federal officials say it is only a matter of time.
Although no locally-transmitted cases have yet been found in Louisiana, public health officials are on high alert to detect and report Zika virus cases as early as possible.
It also allows Puerto Rico to temporarily reassign public health workers to assist in the Zika response. Grant County says this is the first case of Zika virus in a Grant County resident. While most people who are infected only experience mild symptoms, the virus can cause the birth defect microcephaly, which results in babies born with undersized heads and underdeveloped brains.
The same precautions apply at home, and people should also make sure their house is mosquito-proof by ensuring their windows and doors have intact screens.
Gimenez also asked Scott to for an “economic recovery package” to help Miami’s Wynwood business sector recover from the effects of the “Zika Zone” fears. Investigators and mosquito control inspectors will be working in that area, but no other details about the location or the patient were released.
Pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant should avoid travel to areas with Zika transmission.
University Health Network infectious diseases specialist Isaac Bogoch said the full range of health issues related to Zika still isn’t clear, and doctors will be closely watching babies who have been infected to see if cognitive problems emerge as they grow. The best way to prevent the virus is to protect against mosquito bites.
I think our president is the only individual who is very concerned about stopping the spread of the Zika virus while the rest of the country is enjoying political conventions.
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No vaccine or medication is now available to treat the virus.
