The statistic shows that Zika virus, which can cause birth defects if it infects pregnant women, is spreading across Latin America and the Caribbean, including the US territory of Puerto Rico.
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The conference call came as the Department of Health on Thursday announced the number of Zika cases has reached 486, almost doubling the cases since July 1.
With 1,657 cases of Zika confirmed in the US and the first local spread of the virus in Florida, it’s time for President Obama to use all of the nearly $600 million in unspent Ebola funding Congress provided almost two years ago.
Health authorities say those who recently traveled to an area where Zika virus transmission is occurring, and are pregnant or experiencing illness and have questions about getting tested, should talk with your healthcare provider and be sure to tell them where you traveled. “As the first virus that can be transmitted by mosquitoes known to cause severe birth defects, we are working closely with Puerto Rican officials to pursue solutions to fight the virus in Puerto Rico with a focus on protecting pregnant women”. Pregnant women who contract the virus from mosquitoes or relatives risk having a baby born with microcephaly.
In late July, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention set up a fund of almost $60 million to states, cities, and territories battling the virus.
Zika is primarily spread by mosquitoes, but can also be transmitted by sexual contact. Only 12 percent of Americans say they are “very worried” about a member of their family or themselves getting the Zika virus.
Because of the Zika virus outbreak, the state has been hit with more negative information that made tourists reconsider whether they should visit Florida or change their destination. More than 1000 pregnant women have been infected. “Zika is also linked to Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a problem marked by muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis”.
Doctors at the Atlanta-based CDC are anxious.
The Obama administration in February requested $US1.9 billion to fight Zika, but the bill hasn’t advanced in the Republican-controlled lower house of Congress because it has been tied to funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions.
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Keystone said the Aedes mosquito is a daytime-biting insect most active in the morning and late afternoon, and using mosquito repellent and covering your body as much as possible in areas with Zika outbreaks is important. Most importantly, it will allow them to reassign and health workers and ask for more manpower. Without central government direction and funding, Zika could become this generation’s yellow fever.
