Zika has been proven to cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect marked by small head size and undersized brains that requires a complex network of care providers and social workers to treat and provide support to parents. However, she said the state still suspects the case is not related to travel to a Zika-infected area.
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Florida non-profit blood bank OneBlood will start testing donated blood for the Zika virus, its representatives announced Thursday.
“While not surprising, given the travel trends of our global city, this case is a strong reminder of the tragic consequences of the Zika virus”, said New York City Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.
The city health department on Wednesday urged women who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant to delay travel to areas affected by the virus.
Another Zika case reported in Utah became the first death related to the virus in the continental United States.
“Our best option is to try find these mosquitoes quickly so that way we can eliminate them prior to their establishment”, said Ary Faraji, manager of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District.
The Zika virus is now circulating in Latin America, the Caribbean and some of the Pacific islands, primarily through mosquitoes and less commonly through sex.
The Florida Department of Health is now conducting an epidemiological investigation along with the Centers for Disease Control.
NBC reports that city officials have confirmed that the mother of the child contracted the Zika virus in an area known to be home to aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for spreading Zika.
Pregnant women also continue to be tested for Zika if their sexual partners have traveled to an afflicted area. Symptoms last generally anywhere between seven and 10 days.
There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no specific antiviral treatment for Zika.
Dr. Raman Velayudhan, an expert in vector control and part of the WHO Zika response team, wrote in an email, “we also need to know the infection rates of wild-caught Culex compared to Aedes”.
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The son has recovered, but because his infection didn’t involve travel or sex, his case raises more questions about how the virus might spread. When used as directed, these are safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
