The Department of Public Health confirmed six cases of Zika virus in California as of January 29, and reported those were contracted by people who travelled in other countries with Zika outbreaks between 2013-2015.
Advertisement
The most significant health threat is for pregnant women because Zika virus infections have been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, miscarriages, and other poor birth outcomes in some women infected during their pregnancy. The Health Department will also expand its capacity to trap, test and report any types of mosquitoes in the city and the viruses they may be carrying.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State health officials say people are unlikely to contract the Zika virus from mosquitoes in Wisconsin this summer, but they can’t rule it out.
If a pregnant woman is infected it can cause microcephaly, a birth defect that results in the infant having an unusually small head and other brain defects. “If you just have a couple of clusters that you can essentially sustain the suppression of it by not allowing it to become widespread, very likely any major change there – but if we do get widespread changes, then we are going to have to reexamine”, Fauci said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said on Sunday that there is a real possibility of perhaps dozens or scores of people being affected in the country by the virus.
“We are using our technical knowledge and experience to gather as much information as possible and to respond swiftly to this emerging situation”, said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. In U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, at least 475 cases have been acquired, including 58 in pregnant women.
According to World Health Organization, the symptoms of Zika fever consist of mild fever, rash (mostly maculo-papular), headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about three to twelve days after the mosquito vector bite.
The specific species of mosquito that transmits the disease has not been found in the city, the mayor said, but there’s a similar species that could potentially spread the virus.
After learning about the four cases, the OSDH has broadened its efforts to identify potential travel-related cases.
Advertisement
Scientists have said it will be years before a Zika virus vaccine will be available in the market. Rubella, toxoplasmosis, severe malnutrition, and exposure to alcohol, drugs, or toxic chemicals can all lead to some level of microcephaly, as can exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy.
