2 New Cases of Zika Virus Reported This Week in Virginia

Two new cases of the Zika virus were reported in Virginia this week, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Zika is mainly spread by mosquitoes, but that kind of transmission has not yet been seen in the U.S. mainland. Zika is transmitted primarily by the yellow fever (Aedes aegypti) and Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) mosquitoes. These are both aggressive, day-time biting bugs, but the Asian tiger is more common in Northern Virginia, Fairfax County points out. There is a risk of Zika being imported into Virginia and being transmitted by local mosquitoes, according to health authorities.

That brings the total number of Zika virus cases to 15 reported in the Commonwealth as of Thursday, May 12. The health department doesn't give any details of the cases, to protect privacy.

As of Thursday, the number of cases reported in Virginia, by region, are:

• Northwest Region: 2
• Northern Region: 7
• Eastern Region: 1
• Central Region: 3
• Southwest Region: 2

The CDC has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing (see list of areas where virus is transmitted by mosquito below).

The most at-risk population are people traveling to Zika-affected areas, especially pregnant women. Infection with Zika during pregnancy is linked to birth defects in babies, including microcephaly (a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected). Pregnant women are highly discouraged from traveling to Zika-infected areas (Central and South America and the Caribbean). Zika can also be spread from an infected man to his sex partners. There is also a strong possibility that Zika may can be transmitted through blood transfusions, according to health authorities.

Virus attacks fetal brain tissue

On Wednesday, new studies published in Nature and two other science journals show that in pregnant mice, Zika invading brain cells in fetal mice, demonstrating that Zika can attack fetal brain tissue and cause injury. The new studies suggest that if the Zika virus occurs in the first trimester, it makes its way quickly to the uterus and to cells that line and normally help protect the placenta.

Government scientists have reported they have determined that the Zika virus causes severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and brains that do not develop properly. The total number of confirmed cases of microcephaly in Brazil stands at 1,326. A further 3,433 cases are still being investigated, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Also read: Zika Threat in Virginia: 7 Tips This Mosquito Season

In the United States, 472 cases of the Zika virus have been reported as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of those reported cases, 44 of those with the virus are pregnant.

All of the cases were travel-associated. Ten cases were sexually transmitted from people who contracted the virus from traveling outside the country, the CDC reports.

Congress is expected to vote next week on approving $1.9 billion to help fight the Zika virus in the United States. Meanwhile, the Obama administration shifted $589 million to help federal agencies prepare for Zika, Reuters reported. Most of that money came from a fund to fight the Ebola virus, Reuters reported.

Zika symptoms

In most cases of Zika, there are no symptoms. In a few cases, Zika can trigger paralysis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome).

When present, symptoms are mild and last less than a week. They include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.There's no vaccine or specific treatment. Instead the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes rest, rehydration, and acetaminophen for fever and pain. Aspirin and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen should be avoided.

Areas where local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus has been reported:

• Zika Virus in Cape Verde
• Zika Virus in Mexico
• The Caribbean; currently includes: Aruba; Barbados;Bonaire; Cuba; Curaçao; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique;the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a US territory;Saint Lucia; Saint Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Sint Maarten;Trinidad and Tobago; US Virgin Islands
• Central America; currently includes: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,Nicaragua,Panama
• The Pacific Islands; currently includes: American Samoa, Fiji, Kosrae (Federated States of Micronesia),Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa,Tonga
• South America/currently includes: Bolivia, Brazil,Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana,Paraguay,Suriname, Venezuela
• 2016 Summer Olympics (Rio 2016)

American territories where Zika has been reported transmitted by mosquitoes:

• Puerto Rico
• US Virgin Islands
• American Samoa

PHOTO: Asian Tiger mosquito photo courtesy of Fairfax County