Zika Virus Epidemic in US - July 2016: Florida, New York Cases Increasing, In the Hundreds
The number of Zika Virus cases in the United States continues to rise with the total of 1,133 according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 69 of the associated cases are from California, 206 are from Florida and 285 in New York. 320 of the cases are reportedly of pregnant women and 7 infants were reported to have been born with defects because of the disease. US territories also keep watch of the said virus as cases rise up to 2,534, with 279 pregnant women.
The Zika virus is now rampaging through 40 countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere with active mosquito borne transmission. Brazil has more than 100,000 cases reported, not less than 5,000 of those are newborns with microcephaly. Puerto Rico also suffers from a massive number of 2,500 people infected.
FLORIDA NEWS
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Senator Marco Rubio from Florida has stated in a senate hearing last Monday that an additional 13 cases were added for his state's count and said, "The growing threat of the Zika virus as a full-blown public health crisis in the United States is a clear call to action". Florida is second to New York for having the highest count of affected patients. According to report, both states serve as home to a million of Puerto Ricans who travel to their country of origin and/or hosts for visiting countrymen. Travel related cases has now reached 1,132 in the states. Another factor that added to Florida being prone to the virus is the population of mosquitos in the state that seems to not lessen throughout the year. However, Miami Herald reports that none of the cases throughout Florida are from local mosquitoes and only a few are from sexual transmissions.
ZIKA PROTECTION BILL
Rubio and Senator Bill Nelson, being really worried of the condition the country is now facing, are now calling for a revote to a clean Zika Prevention Bill due to it being altered a few times, with House majority Republicans adding terms unrelated to Zika infection such as lifting of environmental controls, birth control expenses cut, and abortion restriction. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, understanding the gravity of the situation, states that there should be "no room for politics" in addressing the control for the outbreak.
ZIKA SYMPTOMS, TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTION
Zika virus is a disease that causes quite a number of illness. It could result to as simple as a fever to the most severe such as neurological disorders, and microcephaly- a defect in the development of infants that results to below-average size of the child's brain and head. This makes pregnant women much more vulnerable to the virus.
Its symptoms consist of fever, having unusual reddish eyes, pain in jointed areas and experiencing rash. The sickness is usually carried by Aedes Aegypti, the same mosquito that carries dengue, but it can also be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfer or laboratory exposure according to CDC.
To prevent further infection, authorities inform the public to take precaution when planning to take part in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics, due to Brazil being one of the major countries affected. Pregnant women are discouraged to go to the said event. Report says if male partners have been to infected areas, it is best to avoid any sexual interaction or use condoms to avoid the possibility of passing on the disease. It is also recommended to be watchful of the places where mosquitoes might breed and clean surroundings to be off of still waters and garbage at least twice a week. Protect yourselves with clothes that will cover your skin, use insect repellants, and use screens for doors and windows to prevent the pests from coming into your homes. For the residents to know more, Florida has set up Zika Virus Information Hotline at 1-855-622-6735.
