Zika outbreaks spreading explosively

The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern last month that it was “spreading explosively” in Africa and South America. Cases have also been reported in the U.S. The virus is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and their babies, and can cause birth defects.

Florida health officials said Wednesday that three pregnant women in the state had tested positive for the Zika virus.

The birth defect called Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong announced the cases Wednesday in his daily Zika update. A news release says all three cases are believed to be travel-related. Officials weren't identifying the counties where the pregnant women were diagnosed microcephaly can signal underlying brain damage.

Zika is rapidly spreading through Latin America, and scientists are studying the virus' possible connection to babies born with unusually small heads. The birth defect called microcephaly can signal underlying brain damage.

At least 34 countries, mostly in the Americas, have active Zika outbreaks and the virus is expected to spread. Brazil has been hit the hardest, followed by Colombia. Nemecek told reporters that the virus had been detected in a man returning from Martinique and in a woman who traveled to the Dominican Republic. Their conditions do not require hospitalization.

Memecek said "This is not a case of an infection having spread in the Czech Republic. It is a disease brought from the areas where we recommended that people not travel".

Rospotrebnadzor, which polices the health and safety of cargo coming into the country from abroad, issued a statement reporting that a woman returning from vacation in the Dominican Republic has fallen ill with the virus following her arrival in Moscow. She did not exhibit any symptoms until her return home.

The woman’s fellow passengers on the flight back are not considered at risk of contracting the Zika virus, Rospotrebnadzor added, but they would not reveal when exactly the woman flew back from South America.

WHO declared the Zika outbreak linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil an international health emergency on Feb. 1. Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes microcephaly, a condition marked by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.


Source : FOXNEWS

Share on Google Plus

About 'Hugot Balita'

To be a global leader and website of interest of all market levels; offering an array of topics, from current events, social media trends, trivia and anything that each generation can think about.