An American woman who stayed in the Philippines for four weeks earlier this year was diagnosed with Zika virus upon her return to the United States, the Department of Health reported on Sunday.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additional resources for pregnant women at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/question-answers.html.
Cases of this virus have been found in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and surrounding South American countries as well as multiple Caribbean islands such as: Aruba, Barbados, The Dominican Republic, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The best way to prevent Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites.
The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
Worldwide health officials are examining the connection between pregnant women contracting the virus and a birth defect called microcephaly in their newborn infants. According to the state, only about one out of five people infected with Zika are symptomatic.
She also advised them to transfer to a safer place when a household member exhibits symptoms of the virus, such as fever, rashes, muscle pains and conjunctivitis. In Puerto Rico, a USA territory where the cases of Zika is doubling each week, donated blood is being imported from the mainland.
Despite the lack of definitive evidence proving that Zika causes birth defects and neurological problems, Chan said officials shouldn’t wait for definitive scientific proof before making recommendations.
“Anyone who is planning to travel to a country with active Zika virus transmission should consult with their healthcare provider before leaving, especially if they are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant”, Relucio said.
Since the start of the Zika virus outbreak, there has been a great rise in the number of microcephaly cases in babies.
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In any case, DOH Acting Commissioner Cathleen Bennett said her department has no reason to expect an outbreak of Zika in New Jersey when mosquitoes pop up in late spring and summer, thanks in part to solid mosquito control management. Men with pregnant sex partners who have traveled to or lived in an area with Zika virus transmission should use condoms or abstain from sex for the duration of the pregnancy.
