The infection was identified in a 60-year-old woman who recently returned from a trip to the Caribbean.
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But Queensland Health said it was not possible to tell what mosquito-borne virus the patient had because they had cleared the virus.
“Based on her clinical symptoms there was a high suspicion that she had Zika virus”, Presence Saint Joseph Hospital CEO Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk said during a Monday morning press conference.
A spokesman for the Chicago Department of Public Health declined to address specifics of any Zika virus cases, but said the public at large is at extremely low risk of transmission because the virus is not known to spread through casual contact.
The effort comes after the recent outburst of Zika cases.
“Because of the potential for congenital Zika infection, pregnant women should strongly consider canceling or postponing travel to areas with ongoing outbreaks of infection”, Farley said.
It is native mainly to tropical Africa, with outbreaks in Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. However, in May, the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil was recognized, and infection has been spreading in South and Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Some experience mild illness with symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
The Zika virus, already linked to severe birth defects, has also been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) – a severe neurological disorder according to a new French research released in the medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday. Call the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Disease Control at 215-685-6740. -Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside and are not able to protect -Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, in accord with the manufacturer’s directions.
Zika is only spread by mosquito bites, therefore only those who travel to places that have outbreaks are at risk for contracting the disease, for the time being, PhillyVoice explained.
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Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers when going outside.
