“The threat of Zika to future generations of Puerto Ricans is evident, and I feel a responsibility to do everything that is within my reach to make sure we fight the spread of the virus”, he said in a statement.
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The declaration will allow HHS to provide added support to the government of Puerto Rico to address the outbreak on the island.
Rebecca Gilman said it is Canada’s second case of maternal-to-fetal transmission of the virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects that include microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains to mothers who were infected while pregnant. Local transmission occurs when an infected mosquito in the area bites another person in the area and transmits the virus. Mosquitos transmitting Zika have recently been found in a part of Miami, Fla., prompting Canada’s public health agency to warn pregnant women to avoid travelling there.
“It was a matter of time before we start seeing Zika cases in Canada and it’s a matter of time before a fetus was infected from the virus”, he said. As in all of the other cases in Louisiana, the patients traveled to regions in the Americas with ongoing Zika transmission and sought medical care in Louisiana after returning, where tests confirmed the viral infection.
Earlier this month, the first cases of locally acquired Zika infection were confirmed in the Miami-area Wynwood neighborhood.
Health authorities say they believe the number of Zika cases is much higher because eight of 10 people show no symptoms and many don’t go to the doctor.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that only causes mild, flu-like symptoms in most people.
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The new survey was conducted three days after the first 15 non-travel-related cases of Zika were reported in the Miami area. Correct and consistent use of condoms and other barrier methods can prevent sexual spread of the virus.
