But the WHO’s regional office for the Americas said the virus is predicted to spread through South, Central and North America and will likely reach all countries and territories where the Aedes mosquitoes are found.
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The CDC, which has not independently confirmed any cases in the continental United States, says almost 20 percent of those infected show any symptoms.
None of the cases involve pregnant women, Rius said on Tuesday, adding that the health department was taking preventive measures against the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects, and was prepared to conduct future testing as more suspected cases are expected in the future. Scientists who have studied the disease say that it is unlikely that the United States will see a mass outbreak like the one in Brazil, which has been hardest hit by the virus, linked to more than 3,800 cases of microcephaly. There is no medicine or vaccine to prevent Zika infection – besides not getting bit by an infected mosquito – and the link between the virus and birth defects remains poorly understood. Recent U.S. outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya – carried by the same mosquito – suggest any Zika outbreaks may be relatively small, said Dr. Lyle Petersen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For the majority of people infected, the symptoms are mild and pass within a few days.
These include putting up health posters for outbound travellers, raising awareness among the medical community, and admitting anyone confirmed to have the virus into a single room at the hospital.
With more and more documented cases piling up around the world, the Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday finally issued treatment guidelines for Zika virus in babies.
In order for the Zika virus to spread, it requires a favorable climate and the help of a certain type of mosquito – the virus can not spread through human-to-human contact.
Is there any vaccine for the Zika virus? Symptoms range from mild to severe.
Zika virus is not a notifiable disease in the European Union, meaning that EU countries are not required to report cases to the ECDC.
USA health officials have again expanded their travel alert to pregnant women about trips to the Caribbean and Latin America.
Castro also said the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.
Given the threat, Collins said “it is now critically important to confirm, through careful epidemiological and animal studies, whether or not a causal link exists between Zika virus infections in pregnant women and microcephaly in their newborn babies”. The virus has always been present in Africa and Asia and it’s caused alarm after appearing past year in Brazil, where it’s suspected of causing birth defects. Canada and Chile are the only places without this mosquito.
Microcephaly is a rare neuro-developmental disorder in which the size of the head of the child is very small.
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Currently, there are no documented cases of Zika virus or microcephaly in the United States, but officials expect it to spread as the weather warms up.
