But health officials say that travel this year will account for less than 1 percent of worldwide travel to Zika outbreak countries. Since the infant received a definitive positive lab result for Zika, it is suspected that the mother probably carried the virus while pregnant, and presumably was infected in Latin America.
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Eleven travel-related cases were confirmed Wednesday, bringing the total cases of Zika in Florida to 293. This is the second confirmed case in Carrollton, and the 13 in Dallas County. “We are sad to report that we now have our first case of Zika-associated microcephaly and our hearts go out to the family”, stated Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Executive Director of HCPH.
“With the exception of these four countries, the Games do not pose a unique or substantive risk for mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in excess of that posed by non-Games travel”, the researchers added.
Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of the Aedes species mosquito. Severe disease is uncommon.
The upcoming Olympic games are not likely to have a major impact on the spread of Zika virus, although four developing countries could face a substantially higher risk, according to a new government estimate. DCHHS advises individuals with symptoms to see a healthcare provider if they visited an area where Zika virus is present or had sexual contact with a person who traveled to an area where Zika virus is present.
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“Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not have unprotected sex with a man who has traveled recently to an area of the world where Zika virus is circulating”, a statement from the health department reads.
