New maps of areas under threat of inhabiting Zika virus-carrying mosquitos have been released as part of an academic study considering spatial characteristics including travel accessibility and climate. It can also be spread through sex as well as blood transfusions, and a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her fetus.
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This case is travel related, which means the person didn’t catch it here.
Government documents revealed there are 98 people with the mosquito borne virus, mainly as a result of travelling overseas to affected countries.
“People should continue to take the appropriate steps to prevent Zika virus infection – especially pregnant women, and health care workers who are caring for severely ill patients with the disease”, Vitek said in the statement. Such measures include wearing gloves, masks and other personal protective equipment. Other uncertainties surround the incubation period of the virus and how Zika interacts with other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue.
According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, there have been 48 travel-associated Zika cases reported in the state as of Monday.
It was the first time Thailand’s health ministry has confirmed the number of Zika cases this year.
More than 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika, mainly in Brazil, and more than 1,600 babies have been born with abnormally small heads and brains since past year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). We’re still monitoring their blood and urine to find out if they are still positive. No one else has tested positive.
Utah health officials said the investigation will remain active. It has also been found in genital tract swabs and fluid inside the eye.
While the Zika virus has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, which affects the brain development of babies, for most people it is a very mild infection and isn’t harmful. “None of the five patients are related and neither are they pregnant”, Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said.
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“Patient A reported hugging and kissing the index patient, in a similar fashion to other family contacts, and assisted hospital personnel in holding the index patient while his stool was being cleaned, but did not have direct contact with stool”. In an August survey by the online travel company Travelzoo, about 40 per cent of Americans surveyed said that the presence of Zika in their tourist destination would affect their travel decisions.
