Infection control lead for the trust Dr Gavin Boyd, said: “There is extremely low risk of contracting Zika virus in the United Kingdom as the mosquito that transmits the virus is not present in the UK”. Bergen And Passaic counties have the most cases with 14 apiece. The four people in Florida are believed to be first ones to contract the virus from mosquitoes within the 50 states.
Advertisement
Researchers had long predicted that the Zika virus would gain a toehold in the continental United States, likely in Florida and along the Gulf Coast.
The current outbreak began in South America and has now spread to other parts of the world including Florida, where the first cases believed to have been contracted from American mosquitos rather than people returning from overseas, has been reported.
“Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS (Guillain-Barré syndrome)”, the World Health Organization said.
“Florida is aggressively working to reduce mosquitoes in the area of the reported cases”, Frieden said.
Until now, Zika infections have been confined to Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the focal point of the outbreak.
“Zika is now here”, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At this time, the department believes that active transmission of the Zika virus are occurring in one small area in Miami-Dade County, in Florida, the statement said. The biggest concern, nevertheless, is the connection between Zika disease in pregnant women and brain damage in their own babies, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with other acute brain defects and abnormally small heads.
Mosquitos that can carry the Zika virus have been found inside of the Colorado borders, but Foy says those mosquitos were likely brought in from other areas and likely won’t be able to survive a Colorado winter.
State officials have responded rapidly with mosquito control measures and a community-wide search for additional Zika cases.
“This is not just a Florida issue; it’s a national issue”.
Reports state that no further Zika cases were identified in the area.
Winter is a high-demand season for Florida, whose beaches draw millions escaping cold northern winters.
Keep in mind to use an insect repellent registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, use or fix screens on windows and doors, use air conditioning when available, and remove standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
Some medical experts said pregnant women should not travel to the Miami area, especially if it involves spending time outdoors. “Sometimes you don’t know where these people were infected”.
However, Congress left on a seven-week vacation without giving the Obama administration any of the $1.9 billion it sought to battle Zika.
Advertisement
Zika-fighting efforts include pesticide spraying, setting traps and eliminating standing water around homes.
