Thailand confirms two cases of Zika-linked microcephaly, first in Southeast Asia
- by Douglas Reid
- in Health Care
- — Sep 30, 2016
"However, because Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes severe birth defects, including microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities, pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider and consider postponing nonessential travel to Southeast Asia", the U.S. agency said.
The World Health Organization lists Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as countries reporting new cases of Zika.
A city worker fumigates the area to control the spread of mosquitoes at a university in Bangkok, Thailand.
Zika, which is mainly a mosquito-borne disease, was first detected in Brazil previous year and has been spreading globally.
"Thailand is not hiding anything and is ready to disclose everything", he said, adding that other countries in Southeast Asia might also have cases of Zika-linked microcephaly that they have not disclosed.
On August 1, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel warning for South Florida, specifically in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood and Miami Beach.
Cambodia health officials have been monitoring the Zika virus, although the country has not seen any cases so far.
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Scott said he was frustrated that lawmakers, who grappled with the issue for months, did not authorize the Zika money more quickly.
"It's great that Congress finally passed a Zika bill", the Republican governor told reporters on a conference call Thursday.
The three babies were born with small heads but it was not clear from ultrasound results whether the 37-week unborn baby had a head size smaller than normal. Currently, there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. FoxNews reports that the country has successfully ruled out Zika as the cause for 2 of the cases.
If pregnant women must travel to Southeast Asia, they should discuss the trip with their doctors.
Researchers have believed that that Zika can be transmitted via semen from men to women, hiding in the testes, where it can avoid the immune system; in fact, there is mounting evidence that it can continue to replicate in the testes - and even increase the viral load - for months after infection. Mosquitoes that spread Zika bite during the day and night.
Some people who are infected do not have any symptoms.
A Zika infection can have serious consequences on pregnant women and their unborn children. The other two, however, were detected with the flavivirus, which suggested they had been infected with dengue, Zika, or meningitis.
