Should we start panicking yet?
Since posing major health threats in the Southern hemisphere, the Zika virus has already caused music festivals to cancel and fear to stir for the upcoming Rio Olympics.
And now, it appears the virus has made its way stateside, because four people in Florida have been locally infected with the Zika virus.
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According to reports, these are the first known cases of the virus being transmitted by local mosquitoes in the continental United States.
The Florida Department of Health explained in a statement:
“While no mosquitoes trapped tested positive for the Zika virus, the department believes these cases were likely transmitted through infected mosquitoes in this area.”
Health officials believe the local transmission is enclosed in a small area north of downtown Miami, but they are still continuing a door-to-door investigation to ask residents for urine samples and determine just how many people are infected.
During a press conference, Governor Rick Scott advised women in the area who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant to contact their doctors or the health department for Zika prevention kits.
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There have been 386 cases of Zika in the state of Florida to date, including 55 pregnant women.
Women who are expecting are at the greatest risk, because the virus can have devastating effects on an unborn baby — like the birth defect microcephaly, miscarriages, stillbirths, and other neurological deficits.
Since 80% of patients infected with Zika show no symptoms — which include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes — it’s very possible that someone could have the virus without knowing.
This is scary! We hope everyone stays safe and health officials stop this outbreak before it gets any worse!
[Image via Wikimedia Commons.]
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