Researchers have established a strong causal link between Zika virus and microcephaly, an infant birth defect that can result in developmental complications and, in some instances, death.
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Gov. Greg Abbott also has assembled a task force to determine how state officials should respond to infectious diseases like the Zika virus.
The virus is predominantly spread through mosquitoes in Brazil. The five counties under a state of emergency are Broward, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa. Therefore, officials are especially concerned about pregnant women, going as far as to say they should cancel all travels to countries where the disease has spread.
A once rare mosquito-borne virus called Zika was recently found to be spreading rapidly through the American continent.
South Florida hospitals are now asking pregnant women if they have traveled to areas known to have confirmed cases of the Zika virus during the admission process.
Health officials are asking Hoosiers, especially pregnant women, to be careful when traveling to countries where the Zika virus has been detected.
The blood centre at the University of Campinas said a second person who donated blood in May developed symptoms and tested positive for Zika, though the recipient of the contaminated blood has not developed symptoms of the virus.
The CDC has advised pregnant women to postpone traveling to 30 countries and territories due to the Zika virus.
Declaring an emergency gives state agencies, such as the department of agriculture and health departments, more freedom to deal with the disease as they see fit.
“Just like a hurricane, we have to ensure Florida is safe”, Scott said yesterday, calling it prudent to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
All of those diagnosed were infected while out of the United States, in areas where transmission of the Zika virus is ongoing, Scott said.
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The Zika virus is an infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitos, which are not native to Northern Ireland so the risk to the population is extremely small, the PHA said.
