The World Health Organization on Tuesday advised pregnant women not to travel to areas affected by the Zika virus outbreak, saying the new advice was issued amid mounting evidence that Zika can cause birth defects.
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The Zika virus is especially risky for pregnant women because the disease can spread to her fetus and cause birth defects such as microcephaly; a defect that effects the brain development of the child and causes the head development to be much smaller than expected. Pregnant women should delay travel to areas where Zika is spreading.
Zika virus has been linked to congenital CNS malformation like microcephaly. She said the mosquitoes in the countries popular for spring break destinations are vicious day-biters.
This new warning does not alter South African Airways’ stance on the matter.
The City of Lubbock Health Department is encouraging people who are traveling to Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico or the Pacific Islands to be aware of the transmission of Zika Virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said there are 55 countries and territories that have reported local Zika transmission from January 2007 to March 3.
Zika virus is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits dengue and chikungunya.
This is the first confirmed case of Zika virus infection reported in a Missouri resident.
“As a pharmacy that champions everyone’s right to be happy and healthy, we are well positioned to address concerns about how anyone can protect themselves and their families from Zika, while also providing many CDC-recommended prevention products”, said Walgreens President of Pharmacy and Retail Operations Richard Ashworth. Google said they are aiming to create a resource that could use data to process and predict where Zika epidemics will happen.
The health secretary added that in the Philippines, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is capable of testing suspected cases of Zika virus through Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Zika is most commonly spread by mosquitoes but several countries have reported cases of sexual transmission.
However, the Emergency Committee (EC) on Zika virus, which met today, said there should be no wider general ban on travel or trade with Zika-affected countries.
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While no cases of Zika have been traced to mosquito bites received in the USA, experts predict some spread of the disease as weather warms up, particularly in Florida, Texas, and other southern states where the Aedes mosquitoes is most prevalent.
