The WHO stops short of advising couples to put pregnancy on hold, as some countries battling the outbreak have.
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“Men and women of reproductive age living in affected areas should be informed and orientated to consider delaying pregnancy”, the World Health Organization said in Thursday’s guidance. “They should be given the information about it and offered that as an option”, World Health Organization spokeswoman Nyka Alexander said Thursday.
“We want to remind residents that, despite this rare incident, there is still no current risk of contracting Zika from mosquitos in Allegheny County”. All of those cases were related to travel to an outbreak area or sex with an infected traveler. The virus causes everything from mild, flu-like symptoms in the average person to severe birth defects in babies, if their mothers contract the virus during pregnancy.
There is no vaccine.
The Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which is common in warm climates.
In addition, the website includes links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Zika virus Web page, information for pregnant women, a map of confirmed cases of Zika in the United States, products used to control mosquitoes and educational activities for children. Concerns over microcephaly led WHO to declare Zika a global health emergency on February 1. Zika is also linked to an increase in Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a disorder in which the body’s own immune cells attack the nervous system.
The scientist accidentally stuck herself with a needle last month during a Zika experiment.
Almost 700 infections have been reported in the 50 states. People who have traveled to affected areas who have symptoms or are pregnant should contact their doctor or call the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-ACHD (2243).
The virus is spreading in Puerto Rico and health officials say clusters of illnesses are likely in the mainland U.S.as mosquito season heats up.
In Congress, the House and Senate each passed Zika bills that would provide funding at levels lower than the administration’s request.
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The Senate voted Wednesday to move ahead with negotiations with the House on a measure to fund the government’s fight against the Zika virus.
