Florida: Zika Virus Alert Broadcasted For Pregnant Women



Warning has been reportedly issued to the pregnant women by Public Health England after the outbreak of Zika virus not linked to travel outside US. This has been announced in the wake of three Zika virus cases reported in Yorkshire. Medical director at Public Health England, Professor Paul Cosford has said, “'We expect to see small numbers of Zika virus infections in travelers returning to the UK, but the risk to the wider population is very low as the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus is not found in the UK.”

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 5,582 people in Puerto Rico have been diagnosed with Zika including 672 pregnant women and this year the virus could affect up to 10,000 pregnant women in Puerto Rico alone, putting hundreds of babies at risk of birth defects.

CDC director Thomas Frieden said, “The infection is likely to affect one in four people by the end of the year.” 

 

There have been over 50 cases diagnosed in UK travelers from January to July 27, 2016. The risk to UK remains unchanged and the Public Health England is keeping a close eye on the international situation about the issue.

 

The warning has been issued just days before the Rio Olympic Games are to start off. Reportedly Brazil has confirmed 1700 cases of Zika virus cases that have been affecting pregnant women and their children fearing the unthinkable effect that the report will have on its games.

 

Though preventive measures have been installed and trucks were seen spewing insecticides around the Olympic Games venue.

 

Zika virus is typically transmitted through bites from the Aedes species of mosquitoes and causes microcephaly which is formation of a small head in proportion to the whole body in the newborns.

One of the most sought after problems affecting the people with Zika virus is that most of those infected show no symptoms at all and those who show symptoms get mild rash, fever and red eyes only. Only twenty percent of people with Zika develop symptoms.

There is no specific treatment for the virus and there is currently no vaccine to protect against infection, though several are in the developmental stages. Therefore prevention is the best cure.




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