Schuchat also confirmed that Zika can be transmitted sexually as well as through mosquito bites, and warned that “the mosquito vector”-the Aedes aegypti mosquito capable of carrying the virus-is present in more of the US than was previously believed: The CDC has now found the insect in 30 states, whereas before, it had only counted it in 12″.
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Public health officials on Monday sounded the alarm about the Zika virus, announcing the graver news about the extent of the disease’s spread and its damage. Perhaps even more alarming than that – they are finding Zika is linked to a wider range of birth defects. Along with the smaller brain size caused by microcephaly, Zika can lead to premature births and blindness in newborns. “Pregnant women whose male sex partners have traveled to an area with Zika need to be concerned about sexual transmission of the Zika virus and the male should use condoms every time or not have sex during the entire pregnancy”.
“She is not showing any signs of the symptoms related to the virus”, said Marie Brown, spokeswoman for the county health department.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said if Congress does not provide emergency Zika funding, U.S. officials likely would be forced to redirect money now dedicated for research into malaria, tuberculosis and a universal flu vaccine. Progress is also being made in the lab with the recent molecular discovery that potentially sheds light on why the virus, which is so similar to dengue fever, infects neurological tissue.
Officials add that while they don’t foresee a widespread outbreak of Zika in the USA, about 300 cases have been reported among American travelers.
“Everything we know about this virus seems to be scarier than we initially thought”.
“I cannot give a number to how many cases, but I can say that we cannot assume we are not going to have a big problem”.
Unfortunately, judging from this Washington Post report, there’s a pretty good chance any additional Zika funding could get caught up in the traditionally contentious debate over the annual budget, and God knows when that’ll get resolved.
The new statements about Zika are helping to fuel a political battle, as the Obama administration reiterates its call for more money to fight the virus, and Congressional Republicans push back. Experts say mosquito control efforts and vaccine research may not be able to catch up with the spread of the disease.
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“The money that’s been transferred over from Ebola account will help bring us a little bit further, but it’s still not what we want”.
