Government says three Canadians infected with Zika virus after travel

The national health institute said in an epidemiology bulletin that there are 20,927 confirmed cases of the disease in Colombia, with 2,116 pregnant women among them.

Hospitalisation is very low and the World Health Organisation says, till now no deaths from Zika have been reported.

“In addition, we are urging everyone, especially pregnant women, to check health travel advisories before leaving the United States and to take preventive measures when traveling in affected areas of the world”, said State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine. The virus spreads through mosquito bites, with the most common symptoms being fever, rash and joint pain.

Since Zika, which originated in Africa, was detected in Latin America previous year, there has been a surge in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads. It is particularly risky for pregnant women – the outbreak in Brazil led to women giving birth to babies with birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Those areas include Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

This article was written by The Associated Press.

The ministry has warned people travelling from Zika virus-struck countries that they should keep an eye on their health in the first 14 days after arrival to Vietnam.

Visit the CDC website for more information about the virus.

FIJI and other Pacific Islands have been cautioned about the mosquito-borne Zika virus. This is a key fact you should be repeating to all of your friends who are freaking out over this right now: The virus has yet to be transmitted within the U.S. Finding the link, if there is one, should be put at the top of the WHO’s agenda during its emergency meeting Monday.

As for those people who are not traveling in one of the 23 countries infected with Zika, medical professionals are adamant that there is no reason to worry about contracting the disease within the U.S. While no outbreaks have occurred in the US, 31 Americans have tested positive for the Zika infection, which they contracted while traveling overseas, USA Today reported.