State Health Department officials say they have a confirmed case of the Zika virus in Tennessee, the first recorded case in the state.
Advertisement
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). The The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, announced new guidance for doctors whose pregnant patients may have traveled to regions with a tropical illness linked to birth defects.
Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County Health Department based in Pittsburgh, says the risk for residents in southwestern Pennsylvania is extremely low.
Bernhard Schwartlander, the World Health Organization representative in Beijing, said imported cases of Zika in China are to be expected given the frequency of travel between the country and South America.
Public health officials say while Zika virus is mostly transmitted by mosquitoes, there’s evidence it’s transmitted another way – through sexual contact. “At present there are still questions about its transmission through sex and other avenues”. Pregnant Americans are urged to avoid travel to affected areas.
Obama explained that this proposed emergency funding is meant to enhance global response against the Zika virus. Zika virus disease has historically occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Advertisement
The statement said further that there was a risk that Zika virus could be spread locally if it was introduced to Hong Kong, because Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, live there. They should avoid mosquitoes, wear long sleeves and long trousers, and use mosquito repellent containing DEET.
