South Korean health authorities have confirmed the first case of a Korean patient being infected with the Zika virus, but they decided not to raise the alert level as the virus is less contagious.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) said the 43-year-old had tested positive in preliminary polymerase chain reaction(PCR) tests on Tuesday morning.
Large-scale trials for Zika virus vaccines are at least 18 months away, says the World Health Organization, with an estimated 15 companies or groups working on a solution to the previously obscure virus which has now become a global concern.
Zika has not been proven to cause microcephaly in babies, but there is growing evidence that suggests a link. Areas like southern Florida and south Texas are likely to be affected by travel-related virus spread while they offer suitable environments for populations of mosquitoes.
Zika is primarily spread by mosquito bite, and is not spread through casual contact like hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing utensils, etc. They are also the result of a mosquito bite. While Zika does not remain in the blood for longer than about a week, which means that transmission from person-to-person via mosquito bite must occur within a very tight timeframe, it is not known how long Zika remains in semen.
Other symptoms include pink eye, joint pain, muscle pain, pain behind the eye similar to a sinus infection, and an overall feeling of discomfort.
Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika, the state says.
“As Zika continues to spread in multiple regions across the world, we anticipate that we will experience an increase in imported cases and must take precautionary measures to reduce our risk for an outbreak in Hawaii”, said Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler.
The mosquito-borne virus is most commonly found in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.
Locally, doctors said they wouldn’t rule out the idea of Zika-causing mosquitoes making their way to the state, particularly once the weather warms up and mosquito season begins in earnest.
In the event Zika transmission from an Aedes mosquito is confirmed, a team of state officials will be dispatched to inspect surrounding areas, perform additional treatment and develop a local action plan.
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“I urge residents to get rid of these mosquitoes themselves, including spraying inside and around their homes”. Armstrong said none of the cases involve pregnant women. Nine countries have reported a spike in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological condition that typically affects people after infections.
