A woman who recently traveled to a South American country where Zika transmission has been documented is Rockland County’s first case, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert confirmed on Friday.
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The guidelines also said men who are concerned about sexual transmission of Zika virus to a non-pregnant partner might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms consistently and correctly during sex. Some 80 percent of individuals won’t know they are infected and could pass Zika on to local mosquitoes, resulting in more local cases.
“The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided”, the CDC said.
While symptoms are usually mild or nonexistent for most people diagnosed with the disease, Zika has led to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack the nervous system, in rare cases. The agency also says follow-up testing can be considered in the middle of the second trimester, because exposure to the virus may pose an ongoing risk.
The UK government is also to provide another £1 million to fund research into the nature of the Zika virus.
United States health authorities on Friday urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating.
Mosquitoes remain the primary way Zika is spread, and preventing bites is the best way to avoid infection.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which has caused outbreaks in at least 26 countries in the Americas.
The CDC stressed that the Zika virus is still mainly spread by mosquitoes.
Infections in pregnant women have been linked to a serious birth defect, microcephaly, although the association is not scientifically confirmed.
The D.C. Department of Health has created a Zika virus fact sheet for District residents so they can stay informed on safety and prevention measures.
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On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the explosive spread of Zika virus to be a global emergency, as it is suspected of being responsible for an increase in congenital defects, even though definitive scientific proof has not been obtained. “We can not forget that [the mosquito] is proven to be the vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika”. “The key point is that women should have the choice and (make) informed decisions”, she said. “Women should be able to have an abortion if they want”.
