Two people in southeastern Brazil contracted the Zika virus through blood transfusions, a municipal health official said Thursday, presenting a fresh challenge to efforts to contain the virus on top of the disclosure of a case of sexual transmission in the United States.
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“Although Florida’s current nine Zika cases were travel-related, we have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state”, Scott said in a statement on Thursday.
According to a January 26th, 2016 Virginia Department of Health Infectious Disease Update on Zika Virus, Influenza, and Norovirus, sent out via email to medical professionals, Virginia “received confirmation of a first imported case of Zika virus infection”.
The virus, linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil, is spreading rapidly in the Americas, and World Health Organization officials expressed concern the virus could hit Africa and Asia as well.
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen on the hand of a health technician in a laboratory conducting research on preventing the spread of the Zika virus.
Transfusions in the two cases were traced to separate donors who had Zika, both of whom reported having suffered symptoms days after they gave blood.
Being bitten by a mosquito may not be the only way to contract the Zika virus.
Alerts were issued to areas with major outbreaks including the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America.
His action came as the mosquito-borne virus generates increasing concern in the United States.
“Timing is essential”, Vazquez said. There’s also the lesser risk of transmitting Zika through sex.
Health officials say 80 percent of people who contract the Zika virus do not show symptoms.
“We can’t just talk about removing a container and not remove it”, Debboun said.
“You have to be anxious”, said Acebal, a retired construction worker.
One of the cases was reported in Douglas County and the other was reported in Sarpy County.
Lillian Rivera, administrator of the Florida Department of Health’s Miami office, said the area is well prepared to respond to the Zika virus, given the region’s history of dealing with the threats of dengue fever, Chikungunya and Ebola.
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To help curb the spread of this virus here at home, I strongly urge you to appoint a point person to coordinate the federal government’s comprehensive response.
