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Health officials: Zika virus risk unlikely in Montana

The Zika virus has spread to at least 25 countries.

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Despite a lack of symptoms, the mosquito-born virus has been linked to severe birth defects. It’s not known how many of these microcephaly cases are associated with Zika virus infection. Medical historians say El Salvador’s recommendation that women not get pregnant is historically unprecedented and raises the possibility that this Zika outbreak may become a generationally defining event for parts of Latin America.

A health worker stands Tuesday in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmi…

Some U.S. travelers have been infected overseas with Zika and other viruses spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but there have been no cases of local infection with Zika in the U.S.so far. Those who do may have fever, headache, pink eye and rash, along with joint and muscle pain.

Colombia’s health minister has said the South American nation has more than 16,400 confirmed or suspected cases of Zika.

Murillo said Wednesday that both women are in satisfactory condition. According to Argentina’s health ministry, three other suspected Zika cases turned out to be negative.

The Health Ministry said Brazilian states were not required to report microcephaly cases before November.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the US government will make a more concerted effort in the days ahead to communicate with Americans about the risks associated with the Zika virus and steps they can take to avoid it. Authorities in Arkansas said Tuesday that a person who had traveled in Central America had tested positive for Zika.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday (Jan27) said they have been monitoring the Zika virus situation closely, and that they will be introducing several measures to enhance surveillance of the disease and to protect Singaporeans.

The USA has had sporadic cases of Zika virus in travelers in the past; none of those cases caused outbreaks. Santa Fe Health Department official Andrea Uboldi tells La Red radio that the man is in the city of Rosario and had recently visited Brazil.

With Carnival celebrations just over a week away and the Olympic Games set for Rio de Janeiro in August, Brazil is poised to receive hundreds of thousands of visitors in the coming months, adding to concerns over the spread of the virus.

Airlines are starting to offer refunds to passengers who have booked flights to countries in central and south America caught up in the Zika virus outbreak.

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There hospital released no further details about the patient but it says that there is little risk of it spreading in Denmark because the mosquito carrying the virus isn’t found in the country.

Health officials: Zika virus risk unlikely in Montana