Zika Virus 'Spreading Explosively' in Americas Reported in Hudson Valley

By RYAN BONNER and LANNING TALIAFERRO (Patch Staff)

An Orange County resident who recently traveled abroad is one of New York’s first confirmed cases of the Zika virus, which health officials say is spreading ”explosively” across the Americas.

The news comes as U.S. officials are urging travelers to Latin America, the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, especially pregnant women, to take precautions to protect themselves from contracting the mosquito-borne virus that can cause birth defects.

The Zika virus outbreak is ongoing in 24 countries, including Mexico, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An Orange County resident is one of five New Yorkers who has been infected with the virus, health officials have announced. All five had recently traveled abroad. The other New York cases were reported in New York City (2), Nassau County and Monroe County.

The Orange resident had visited South America and later tested positive for the virus, county health officials said.

“There is virtually no risk of acquiring Zika virus in this region or even in the state,” said Dr. Eli Avila, Orange County’s Commissioner of Health. “The Department is passing along the CDC recommendation that people check the CDC website with travel advisories to areas where the Zika virus is found and take those precautionary measures.”

Orange County Department of Health suggests women see their healthcare provider if pregnant and develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes within two weeks after traveling to a country where Zika virus cases have been reported. Physicians and hospitals are required to report all suspected cases of Zika virus. The New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratory has the capacity to test for Zika virus. Hospitals and providers must contact the Orange County Department of Health Nursing Division at 845-291-2330 prior to sending samples to Wadsworth.

A woman recently visiting New Jersey from Colombia became that state’s first confirmed case of the Zika illness, according to the N.J. Department of Health.

Officials from the World Health Organization said Thursday that the Zika virus was “spreading explosively” in the Americas, saying they plan to convene an emergency meeting next Monday to decide whether to declare a public health emergency, according to The New York Times.

“The level of alarm is extremely high,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the WHO, in a speech in Geneva that was quoted in the Times.

The WHO has estimated that there could be 3-4 million cases of the Zika virus over the next year.

Zika-affected countries also include Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, Venezuela.

The alerts follows reports in Brazil of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. There have been more than 4,000 reported cases of microcephaly, a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with small heads, according to a CNN report.

More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, according the CDC.

“Pregnant women should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing,” the CDC said.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and local health officials discussed the Zika outbreak during a press conference in Mineola Thursday morning.

“Nassau County residents are urged to heed the CDC’s travel alert, warning pregnant women to avoid travel to the 24 countries where the Zika virus is spreading and causing birth defects,” Mangano said. “While some airlines are refunding pregnant customers, the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs is ready to assist residents who encounter obstacles from cruise lines and other air carriers. To that end, I am introducing legislation requiring carriers to refund pregnant travelers and their travel companions.”

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites. Four in five people who acquire Zika infection may have no symptoms. Illness from Zika is usually mild and does not require hospitalization.

Long Island health officials say there is currently “no risk” of acquiring the Zika virus while on Long Island, but officials are “preparing for additional cases resulting from travelers.”

President Obama on Tuesday called for accelerated development of vaccines, tests and treatments for the virus. Airlines have been offering refunds to passengers in countries affected by the Zika virus outbreak.

Travelers are strongly urged to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535. Always use as directed.
• Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, and IR3535 are safe for pregnant and nursing women and children older than 2 months when used according to the product label. Oil of lemon eucalyptus products should not be used on children under 3 years of age.
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).
• Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.