Daily Brief: 2017.3.15
THREAT ANALYSIS
Zika Virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that sperm donations from three counties in Florida might contain the Zika virus. In their press release, the CDC identified the risk of Zika transmission as beginning on June 15, 2016 for the three counties, meaning that sperm samples across the areas’ 12 sperm banks could be compromised.
(Sources: CNN, Newsweek)
Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. However, the virus can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms may include muscle pain and headaches.
(Sources: CDC, WHO)
So far, Zika cases have been documented across 50 countries. In the United States there have been 4,813 travel related cases and 221 locally acquired cases. In Indiana, there have been 53 cases, all of which were travel related. Florida is still the only state to document locally acquired cases. US territories have reported a total of 38,099 cases of Zika.
(Sources: CDC)
ACTION STEPS
- The CDC has recommended that would-be parents “consider this potential risk” if using samples available in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties.
- If you are planning on traveling to an area that is known for Zika transmission, Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents.
- Even if you do not feel sick, travelers returning to the United States from an area with Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks so they do not spread Zika to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people.
(Sources: CDC)