Colombia: 3177 pregnant women with Zika; no microcephaly

Spain confirmed Thursday that a pregnant woman was diagnosed with the Zika virus, the first known case in Europe. Microcephaly is a rare condition where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

Still, the CDC said, men with a pregnant sex partner who live in or have traveled to an area where Zika is spreading should use condoms during sex for the duration of the pregnancy or abstain from sex altogether.

Of the three cases, one came in 2015, and the other two were confirmed in 2016. Pregnant women need to be the most concerned. If he is showing symptoms, Public Health England says, his partner should avoid pregnancy for six months after his recovery.

Pregnant women who travel to areas where Zika is spreading should be tested for the virus within two to 12 weeks after they return, even if they don’t have symptoms, the CDC said.

Women of childbearing age, who want to avoid become pregnant, have been advised to use contraceptives and those who want to become pregnant are asked to get monitored and opt for preventive measures to avoid the virus.

“We just don’t know”.

Sexual transmission of Zika is possible, and because the mosquito-borne disease has been potentially linked to birth defects, it’s of particular concern during pregnancy.

The virus’ illness is generally mild and 4 out of 5 people infected with Zika don’t realize it.

Aircraft returning to the United Kingdom from countries affected by the Zika virus are to be sprayed with insecticide, Jane Ellison, the public health minister has announced.

In addition, another Zika-infected traveler – someone in Florida, who recently had been to Central America – has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a CDC official said.

The Health Ministry said that the gun-shot case was not part of a study, but that it is to be used “among multiple investigations under way into the behaviour of the virus”. In addition, the risk of infection “depends on how long and how much a person has been exposed to infected mosquitoes, and the steps taken to prevent mosquito bites while in an affected area”.