Between November 1 and April 15, there were 683 confirmed Zika cases in Puerto Rico. Until now, FDA-approved tests for Zika had to come from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and could only be used at specific CDC laboratories.
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So far, 426 cases of Zika have been diagnosed within the 50 U.S. states, according to CDC data.
Shortly after those symptoms subsided, the man developed “bleeding manifestations” which sent him to the doctor for treatment.
With the Zika virus spreading and new research confirming that the Zika fever could be directly linked to Guillane-Barre Syndrome (a neurological disease that causes rapid paralysis in the victim), better testing clearly could not come soon enough. It said the patient died after developing severe thrombocytopenia, or low levels of platelets that help blood clot.
Puerto Rico recorded the first death related to Zika virus amid an outbreak in the USA territory, which is seeking federal funding to prevent an epidemic.
This is the first time in the United States or territories that Zika infection contributed to a death, the CDC said.
The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Plus, the illness is typically mild – symptoms usually last anywhere from several days to a week, and hospitalization is rarely necessary. While the virus doesn’t often require an infected person be hospitalized, it can be unsafe during pregnancy.
The virus has also been associated with a rise of microcephaly birth defect cases.
He sought medical care because he reported symptoms similar to dengue, but tested positive for Zika. The virus has the most serious effect on pregnant women, causing children to be born with small heads or hardened spots on their brains.
The discovery did not come as a surprise to US health officials, who have been telling states that originally did not think the virus would spread to other regions to prepare for Zika.
The health authorities urged people in Puerto Rico to “continue to employ mosquito bite avoidance behaviors, including using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and ensuring homes are properly enclosed”.
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“For a woman who has returned from a place with Zika virus, to not get pregnant within the first two months of coming back from one of the affected countries”, said Dr. Russel.
