Hope Solo reiterates concerns over Zika at the Olympics

“We have been in close contact with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as infectious disease specialists with expertise regarding the Zika virus”.

Health officials in Yolo County were quick to reassure anxious residents, reports ABC 7, noting that the infected resident got the virus after traveling outside of the United States. Yolo County health officials say the patient is at home and doing fine and nobody has to worry about the virus spreading in Northern California.

“I know that the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil is of concern to many of you”, the USOC CEO Scott Blackmun wrote in a letter addressed to all potential Olympians, reported by FOX News.

Maduro said, while speaking on national television, that the country has reported over 300 confirmed cases of the virus. However, Zika-infected mosquitoes have not been detected in the state.

CDC officials have made clear that they expect the Zika virus to spread deeper into the USA because of the high frequency of travel between the US and affected countries in Central and South America.

Dr Frieden said intensive research was under way to find out much more about the mosquito-borne virus and to develop a vaccine for it, although he warned that that could still be years away. Still, four out of five people infected will have no symptoms or just mild symptoms. It is suspected – but not proven – that the virus is to blame for a birth defect called microcephaly that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and possible brain damage.

In addition, asymptomatic pregnant women who have traveled to Zika-affected areas should be tested for the Zika-virus between 2-12 weeks post travel.

“We will undoubtedly see many travelers returning to the USA with Zika”, Frieden said.

There have been 13 confirmed cases in the Sunshine state since 2014.

“The Zika virus is not present in Australian mosquitoes and there is no risk to the community that this condition will be passed on”, Hennessy said, according to AFP. “Pregnant women who have recently traveled to an area with Zika should talk to a healthcare provider about their travel even if they don’t feel sick”.