The U.S. recently declared the Zika virus outbreak in Puerto Rico to be a public health emergency, as the virus has infected more than 6,000 people, including more than 520 pregnant women. While the virus generally causes mild symptoms in adults – and only about 20 percent even have symptoms at all – Zika’s connection to a host of different congenital birth defects makes it particularly unsafe for women who are pregnant or wish to become pregnant.
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Pasadena Public Health Director Michael Johnson said late last week his Department is closely tracking the progress of the spread of the Zika virus in California while working with local medical providers to coordinate testing of people who exhibit Zika-like symptoms and who have traveled in Zika-impacted areas. There are now 28 locally acquired cases in the tri-county area, after the Florida Department of Health announced the identification of three new locally acquired cases in Miami-Dade on Friday. It can also be used to request temporary reassignment of local public health department personnel to assist in the Zika response.
An additional 21 travel-related cases were reported Thursday for a total of 404. The virus is transmitted by daytime-active mosquitos.
It is estimated that 1.5 million people have been infected by Zika in Brazil, with over 3,500 cases of microcephaly reported between October 2015 and January 2016.
During a visit this week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said transmission on Puerto Rico is so rapid that 25 percent of the island could be infected with Zika by year’s end.
“This emergency declaration allows us to provide additional support to the Puerto Rican government”, Burwell added.
So health officials are reminding the public it’s wise to take precautions both to prevent Zika and limit your exposure to the virus. These infections in the United States are thought to have occurred because the patients’ partners had traveled to countries where Zika is circulating, the CDC said. Health officials advise travelers to prevent mosquito bites when they return from areas with mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
“The hope is there will be less and less as Canadians become more aware of the risk”.
Murthy, who personally acknowledged everyone attending the class, spoke about the federal government’s Zika prevention efforts at a news conference after the class.
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Murthy said his biggest concern was pregnant women because Zika has been linked to severe birth defects and other developmental problems. Zika is transmitted by mosquito bites, and the strain of mosquitoes that carry the virus does not live in the Northwest.
