Ever since Zika’s detection in Brazil in May 2015, the virus has spread to nearly 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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However, the World Health Organization suspects that pregnant women infected with the Zika virus could give birth to babies with microcephaly – a condition in which a child is born with a smaller-than-normal head and impaired brain development.
The presence of the Zika virus in Brazil won’t compromise the Olympics in August, President Dilma Rousseff vowed on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) as soldiers went door-to-door across the country to share key tips on how to stem the outbreak. The rate of Zika-infected persons has increased by 23% from last week’s figures and, more alarmingly, the rate of pregnant women who had the virus has increased by 57.8%.
“We chose to suspend the use of the product in drinking water until we have a position from the ministry of health, and so, we reinforce further still the appeal to the population to eliminate any possible mosquito breeding site”, said Joao Gabbardo dos Reis, state health secretary in Rio Grande do Sul.
Of those cases, 462 were confirmed as microcephaly and 41 were determined to be linked to the Zika virus.
“We don’t know completely what range will be covered across the Americas, and we’re not certain about the efficacy of control methods of mosquitos or of personal protection”, Dye said.
One of Brazil’s top health officials, meanwhile, warned that Zika was likely to spread to densely populated areas – including Rio and Sao Paulo. Fauci said he wouldn’t be surprised if Zika popped up in a few pockets across the country and spread locally, but he doubts that an outbreak would gain much steam. Two new cases were reported Friday in OH while in Hawaii, the governor has declared a state of emergency to deal with mosquito-borne illnesses, including Zika. “Infants with microcephaly should undergo routine ophthalmologic evaluations to identify such lesions”, the researchers said.
The Erie County Health Department says there is no public health threat from a case of the Zika virus that was found here in Erie County.
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There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which causes mild fever, rash and red eyes.
