Fear about the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil have led 150 health experts to issue an open letter urging the World Health Organisation (WHO) to consider whether August’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics should be postponed or moved to a different city.
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However, the letter’s authors note that if visitors get infected with the Zika virus in Brazil, they could return home to the Northern Hemisphere, where the virus could be spread among local mosquitoes during the peak summer months.
The majority of those infected with Zika will have no symptoms, but for others it can cause a mild illness with symptoms including a rash, fever and headache.
Because there are so many unknowns, the CDC advised those who’ve traveled to areas experiencing an outbreak to practice safe sex for at least six weeks after travel if they have no symptoms of the virus.
Solano County Department of Health and Social Services officials are reporting the first case of the Zika virus in a Solano County resident.
It is well now that Zika virus shares a link with neurological disorders like the microcephaly in newborns, but the link, even though there is statistical implications over the virus and the birth defect, has not been scientifically proven.
The letter was addressed to the World Health Organization and called on the WHO to pressure the International Olympic Committee to cancel the games.
The virus is spread through mosquito bites. “This is especially important for women who are already pregnant or are intending to be pregnant”.
WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan said earlier this month that the United Nations health agency is increasingly anxious about Zika but stopped short of recommending the Olympics be moved or postponed.
Zika, a worldwide fightThe Zika virus has been one of the most prominent diseases this year alone, considering it has not only affected the USA, but also remote countries.
Zika infection in pregnant women has been shown to be a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other serious brain abnormalities in babies.
World Health Organization has already advised pregnant women not to go to Rio and says travellers should avoid poor and overcrowded parts of the city.
“In over ten years of monitoring, we have not found the species of mosquitoes identified as Zika carriers in our community”, says John Hausbeck, PHMDC Environmental Health Supervisor.
Men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas and have pregnant partners shouldabstain from sex or consistently and correctly use condoms for the duration of the pregnancy for all forms of sexual activity.
To help the public keep track of the status of Zika within the state, ADPH updates include total numbers of cases at adph.org, search Zika.
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There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection.
