U.S. health officials are reporting new cases of a mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects.
Three cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Florida, and two pregnant women tested positive in Illinois. Texas and Hawaii also have confirmed cases, including a baby born with a birth defect.
In the handful of confirmed cases in the U.S., those infected traveled outside of the country and tested positive once they got home.
All of the Zika cases in the U.S. involve foreign travel. The Florida victims traveled to Colombia and Venezuela and the two pregnant women in Illinois visited Central America and the Caribbean. A Texas man was also diagnosed after he returned from El Salvador in November.
"The two cases that we have in Illinois are in individuals who traveled and came back and were diagnosed," said Nirav Shaw of the Illinois Department of Public Safety.
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3 comments:
Does anyone know if these mutations would be passed down to the children of these newborns? If so I would assume this could continue to affect future generations even if the transmission were brought under control.
Very good question. I was told many years ago (by health care officials) that mosquitoes would be able to carry illnesses that were once thought not transferable by insects as years passed. We are now living that nightmare. Also, illnesses once thought only transferred to livestock are now able to be transferred to humans. If HIV is not transferred now it will be. Genetic mutations in ALL illnesses make this possible and it is a naturally occurring process that cannot be contained. Women who have been bitten are encouraged to NOT get pregnant for at least 2 years.
So,stopping illegal immigration by humans from these and all other countries would be the preventative method best used?
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