A case of Zika virus has been confirmed in Lafayette County by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
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A comparison of those numbers to the department’s August 2 Zika Weekly Surveillance Report shows that there were 32 new confirmed cases on St. Thomas, three on St. Croix and one on St. John.
Zika is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus species mosquito.
There are now 1,962 cases of Zika virus confirmed in the continental US, as well as another 6,587 in American territories, according to the CDC’s most recent update published Wednesday.
Florida’s caseload of Zika spread by Miami mosquitoes has risen to 25, and USA health officials continue to warn pregnant women to avoid the infection zone despite the governor’s assurances that the area of concern is shrinking.
An additional 21 travel-related cases were reported Thursday for a total of 404.
Health Secretary Ana Rius said Friday there are 10,690 cases altogether, including 1,035 involving pregnant women.
In the case of arthrogryposis, the babies have restricted movement in some of their joints and sometimes the joints are stuck in a single position.
A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus.
Her response echoes that of many Congressional Democrats, who are frustrated the House left for vacation without passing viable legislation to fund Zika efforts.
Florida is reporting more cases of Zika spread by Miami mosquitoes, but the governor says the infection zone is shrinking. Some 4,000 students attend six schools in the Wynwood arts district.
Researchers say they’ve identified two proteins in the Zika virus linked to the severe birth defect microcephaly.
“Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should check if their travel destination is affected by Zika virus and may need to consider postponing their plans”, Murphy said.
The Zika virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The World Health Organization declared earlier this year that the mosquito-borne virus is a public health emergency of global concern.
Texas reported its first Zika-related death Tuesday after a baby girl whose mother travelled to El Salvador while pregnant died shortly after birth in a suburban Houston hospital.
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Last week the Atlanta-based CDC took the unprecedented step of warning pregnant women to avoid the square-mile area of Wynwood.
