In the summer of 2016, I brought to you complete details of the Zika Virus, a virus carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito. I then followed up a couple of months later with updated information on the virus.
The Zika Virus – 2017 Update: What It Has Come Down To
Maybe it’s just me but, it seems that with everything you see in the news these days, ‘need to know’ information on viruses such as the Zika Virus can become overlooked or missed…and in some cases, not even mentioned (or reported) at all.
Zika Virus Reported Cases
So, what are the new developments regarding the Zika Virus? Let’s start with a ‘case count’ update. To be able to compare this year’s information to 2016’s information, I’ll cover case counts for both years. This information will be courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and will include the United States and all US territories.
Case Count for 2016
In 2016, Zika virus disease became a nationally notifiable condition. Cases were reported to CDC by state, territorial, and local health departments using standard case definitions. This web page contains provisional data reported to ArboNET for 2016.
US States
5,102 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases reported:
- 4,830 cases in travelers returning from affected areas
- 224 cases acquired through presumed local mosquito-borne transmission in Florida (N=218) and Texas (N=6)
- 48 cases acquired through other routes, including sexual transmission (N=46), laboratory transmission (N=1), and person-to-person through an unknown route (N=1)
US Territories
36,079 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases reported:
- 142 cases in travelers returning from affected areas
- 35,937 cases acquired through presumed local mosquito-borne transmission
- 0 cases acquired through other routes
For complete case count information for 2016, click HERE.
Case Count for 2017
Please note that the following information only goes to June 7, 2017. More information will be reported as 2017 continues.
Zika virus disease is a nationally notifiable condition. Cases are reported to CDC by state, territorial, and local health departments using standard case definitions. This webpage contains provisional data reported to ArboNET for January 1, 2017 – June 7, 2017.
US States
125 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases reported:
- 124 cases in travelers returning from affected areas
- 0 cases acquired through presumed local mosquito-borne transmission
- 1 case acquired through other routes (e.g., sexual, laboratory, or blood-borne transmission)
US Territories
502 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases reported:
- 0 cases in travelers returning from affected areas
- 502 cases acquired through presumed local mosquito-borne transmission
- 0 cases acquired through other routes
For complete case count information for 2017, click HERE.
How To Obtain Other Important Information on the Zika Virus
The Center of Disease Control is THE place to go for all current updates for the Zika Virus. Here are the links for must have, updated information such as:
- About Zika – What We Know
- Overview – How Zika Spreads, Symptoms, and Protection Against the Zika Virus
- Reporting And Surveillance Information
….and much more!! Visit their site often to get updated information as summer progresses.
Zika Virus in the News…
What do the above case reports prove? They prove that the Zika Virus is still very much a concern and should not be ignored.
Let’s continue with new information being reported on the Zika Virus. The following information are recent media reports from around the world.
- June 3, 2017 – New York Times – India Acknowledges Three Cases of Zika Virus
- June 5, 2017 – Salon – A new Zika threat hovers as summer’s mosquitos get bzzzzy
- June 5, 2017 – Stat News – Puerto Rico declares its outbreak of Zika virus is over
- June 9, 2017 – Stat News – ‘Part of the new reality’: Despite confusion, Zika warnings are here to stay
Prevention Is Key
Protecting yourself from being bit by mosquitoes, like using mosquito repellents, is the only way to stay clear of the Zika Virus. If you think you may have contracted the Zika Virus, please contact your primary care physician as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, the symptoms can conclude:
- Fever
- Rash
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
- Muscle pain
We will provide another update in a few months. To all of our readers, stay safe, protected, and prepared in the outdoors!
WatchMojo.com gives us the top 10 need to know Zika Virus facts:
Are you aware of the Zika virus? Let us know in the comments below!
Here are more ways to protect yourself against mosquitoes!
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on Jun 17, 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.