Late Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the Ohio Department of Health of the second case of Zika virus in a returning traveler from Haiti, a 21-year-old Stark County man. In 2014, though, the virus began to spread from one region to another at an alarming pace till it hit South America, where it has now reached pandemic Levels, especially in Brazil.
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“We are focusing on pregnant women and women in the reproductive age range who may become pregnant”, Miller said.
Colombia last Friday said three people had died after contracting the Zika virus and developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system causing weakness and sometimes paralysis.
A PREGNANT Queensland woman has been diagnosed with the Zika virus after returning from overseas.
China has confirmed its first case of imported Zika virus, after the outbreak of the disease in the Americas.
Brazil is experiencing an outbreak of the Zika virus, which is spreading rapidly through Latin America and has been linked to birth defects.
The CDC has recommended that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika transmission is ongoing. There have been about 50 confirmed cases of Zika in the U.S.
“I think it’s really important for people to know that, even though this has gotten a lot of media attention, it’s generally a very mild infection”, said THD Epidemiologist Tim Jones, M.D.
Researchers blame mosquito bites for most of the cases, although the virus also can spread through sexual intercourse and blood transfusions.
“While public health and medical professionals have a good body of knowledge about many mosquito-borne diseases, there is still much to learn about Zika virus disease”, Health Commissioner Dr. John Dreyzehner said in a statement.
Many people infected don’t get sick.
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Common symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, usually appearing within 3-7 days of infection.
