Skip to main content
Tags: zika | virus | us

Zika Virus US: Mosquito-Borne Infection Likely Coming North, Say Experts

Zika Virus US: Mosquito-Borne Infection Likely Coming North, Say Experts
Anthony Fauci (R), director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease and Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention speak with reporters during a press briefing about the Zika virus at the White House in Washington February 8, 2016. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

By    |   Monday, 18 April 2016 02:13 PM EDT

The Zika virus will likely come to the U.S. and health agencies should prepare for local transmission of the mosquito-borne disease, experts said Sunday.

According to Newsweek, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, as well as other public health officials from the National Institutes of Health, believes that dozens of Americans will eventually be infected with the Zika virus.

Fauci added, though, that he did not believe an outbreak in the United States would be widespread.

"It is likely we will have what is called a local outbreak," Fauci told "Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace," according to Reuters. "It would not be surprising at all - if not likely - that we're going to see a bit of that. We're talking about scores of cases, dozens of cases, at most."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects, noted the CDC.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito can be found in about 30 states.

There have been 350 cases of people being infected with the Zika virus overseas and then returning to the United States, but no one has been infected within U.S. borders.

Zika can also be spread through sexual contact and can give adults the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome.

"There are only individual case reports of significant neurological damage to people not just the fetuses but an adult that would get infected," Fauci said. "Things that they call meningoencephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and the covering around the brain, spinal cord damage due to what we call myelitis. So far they look unusual, but at least we've seen them and that's concerning."

Related Stories:

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


TheWire
The Zika virus will likely come to the U.S. and health agencies should prepare for local transmission of the mosquito-borne disease, experts said Sunday.
zika, virus, us
338
2016-13-18
Monday, 18 April 2016 02:13 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved