The Zika virus stays in the blood for about one week, but is thought to remain in other bodily fluids longer. They’ll also be asked about any sexual or close contact with anybody infected with Zika.
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Her male partner had been bitten by mosquitoes during his travel but had no signs of Zika infection, which typically include rash, red eyes, fever and malaise, He told officials he had only felt exhausted, which he attributed to travel.
Blood testing for the virus, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly that is characterized by an abnormally small skull and brain, has occurred only in areas of Florida and Puerto Rico.
“It’s a rapidly changing situation and if you are required to do so, we do make sure that we are following the FDA requirements because we are licensed by the FDA and in order to maintain our licensure, we need to follow FDA requirements”, said Bonfils Blood Center spokesperson Liz Lambert.
“She didn’t develop Zika until about 40 days after she got home”, said Brooks, “so it’s possible she was infected via sex, but it’s also possible that it was a very delayed incubation from a mosquito bite”. Symptoms can include fever, joint pain, rash and red, irritated eyes.
The World Health Organization says 53 countries around the world have reported Zika outbreaks since 2015.
President Barack Obama on Saturday called on Republicans, who control both chambers of the US Congress, to allocate more money to fight the spread of Zika.
Workers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department kill mosquitoes outside a construction site near a residential area in Hong Kong, China August 26, 2016, after the first case of Zika was confirmed in the city.
The FDA has OK’d two experimental blood tests for the virus.
Local centers will have 12 weeks to obtain testing kits.
Two US lawmakers, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of CT and Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas, had recently urged the FDA to expand testing for Zika to blood banks nationwide, saying it would cost less than $10 per donor.
The tropical mosquito that spreads Zika and other viruses is found along the southern U.S. Friday’s directive lists 11 states that will need to begin screening blood in the next month due to their location or because of the influx of travelers from Zika outbreak countries.
FDA officials said they do not anticipate any problems supplying the tests throughout the U.S.
Covin said the addition of Zika testing won’t impede the flow of blood products to island hospitals.
The FDA works with other federal agencies to set standards for screening, testing and handling blood donations.
“This is just one more test that is appropriate to add to the menu of infectious disease tests”, said Dr. Carter. The move is “a strong step forward in protecting our nation’s blood supply”, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement.
This Q & A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.
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Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquito.
