For those not concerned with pregnancy, Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said, “Zika is a milder disease compared to Dengue and ChickV and complications are rare”.
Advertisement
The latest figures make Colombia the second nation in South America most affected by the mosquito-borne virus, after Brazil, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak with almost 3,700 reported cases of microcephaly suspected to be related to Zika. Doctors are examining a link between Zika virus and an increase in stillbirths and microcephaly (infants with small heads), which could bring about a variety of other development issues, like trouble learning, seizures, and deafness.
The virus which has symptoms ranging from fever and rash to joint pain and red eyes is something medical providers will be watching closely during this travel season and as the summer months approach.
Nigeria’s minister of health Isaac Adewole said the travel restriction, especially on pregnant women, will be on until the situation improves worldwide.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is poised to start very early clinical trials on a Zika vaccine this year, but it won’t be ready anytime soon.
Canada’s Public Health Agency confirms there are four cases of the Zika virus in Canada. The Health Ministry of Peru held fumigation campaigns to prevent the spreading Zika virus, according to local press.
Dozens of Zika cases have been reported in the USA, all in people who traveled outside the country.
Though millions are expected to become infected with Zika throughout this outbreak, only about 20 percent should become symptomatic.
Advertisement
“Last year, the virus was detected in the Americas, where it is now spreading explosively”, Chan said in a briefing to the WHO’s executive board. All three samples came from people who had recently traveled to countries where the Zika virus is widespread. But officials said they do expect to see some locally-transmitted cases occur in the United States.
