The Zika virus affects primarily monkeys and humans and is transmitted by daytime-active mosquitos. It said the virus, in some places, has been linked to a steep increase in babies born with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
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In Ireland’s case – and anywhere with generally cold climates – there should be little reason to fear an outbreak due to it being mosquito-borne in nature and not transmissible through other means, like touch or bodily fluids, like sweat. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is like dengue and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes.
Fauci said at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. on Friday that the U.S.is taking the virus “very seriously” and is preparing in case it should spread here.
“In the light of the growing Zika virus outbreak we have reminded sports to follow the travel medicine advice issued to them over recent months regarding travel to Brazil for training and competition purposes”. Brazil said that almost 3,700 cases of microcephaly have been studies this week for signs of Zika.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said the NIH is “working with partners to accelerate research, disease diagnosis, vaccines and therapeutics”.
Dr Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there have been 31 cases of Zika infection among United States citizens who traveled to areas affected by the virus.
But he says Americans shouldn’t “get overly panicked” since there have been no transmissions of the disease within the United States. Although the risk of virus establishment in Canada is low, there is ongoing risk to Canadians travelling to endemic regions. American Airlines requires a doctor’s note confirming pregnancy in order for customers to receive a refund.
The WHO’s regional office in the Americas said Monday the most effective ways to stop the virus from spreading are to reduce mosquito breeding sites and for people to protect themselves from bites with insect repellent, nets, screens and clothing that covers as much of the body as possible.
The blood samples, which had been frozen, were re-tested and came back positive for Zika, suggesting that the wife was infected by her husband since none of the mosquitoes that carry Zika were present in Colorado.
– Also: Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa, and Samoa in the South Pacific.
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Officials from Brazil and global health organizations are trying to determine if a widespread outbreak of the virus there is related to a seemingly sudden upswing in cases of birth defects.
