Mosaic Life Care is continuing to monitor the Zika virus as reports of travel-related cases increase into 12 states and the District of Columbia.
Alabama health officials said Wednesday that they’ve confirmed the first travel-related case of the Zika virus. Other states reporting travel-associated cases according to the CDC include Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and the D.C. Puerto Rico
Dr. Scott Folk, Dir. of Adult Infectious Diseases with Mosaic Life Care said it is possible we could also see a travel-related case in St. Joseph at some point.
“With the way that people travel these days, they like to go here there any everywhere I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point we do see a traveler with Zika but none so far,” Dr. Folk said.
He said currently the virus has only been seen to spread through a certain type of mosquito.
“It’s transmitted largely by the same mosquito that transmits yellow fever,” Dr. Folk said. “These yellow fever mosquitoes are found in Central and South American and the Caribbean and also in the southeastern U.S., Florida and some of the adjoining states.”
Dr. Folk said one of the concerns is whither the Zika virus will adapt to Asian Tiger Mosquitoes because they are found in a much wider area of the U.S. more so then the Yellow Fever Mosquitoes. He said the Asian Tiger Mosquitoes are found in 32 states including Missouri.
“That’s some of the concern but some of that concern has to be tempered by the knowledge that the infrastructure that we have in the U.S. to control mosquitoes is a lot more robust then what it is in some of the countries in the Caribbean,” Dr. Folk said. “Simple use of air conditioners instead of having the windows and doors open the windows and doors are closed in the U.S. and the air conditioner is on so that will help. Then trying to go around and eradicate any areas of standing water that will help reduce the risk of transmission because mosquitoes like to breed in those kinds of areas.”
The Zika virus is suspected of causing a defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.
He compares the virus to Dengue and Chikungunya in the aspect that while those diseases are found spread by mosquitoes in the Caribbean they have not been a significant problem in the U.S.
“Hopefully the same scenario will play out with Zika if indeed the virus does adapt to these additional mosquitoes, these Asian Tiger mosquitoes,” Dr. Folk said. “Hopefully with the infrastructure that we have in the U.S. as far as mosquito control it won’t be a significant problem just like Dengue and Chikungunya. Although, there is ongoing transmission in the Caribbean it hasn’t been a significant problem here in the U.S. Hopefully that’s the way it will play out here.”
Right now Dr. Folk said the best thing to do to avoid the Zika virus is to to avoid traveling to countries with reported active transmission of the virus. Pregnant women are especially urged to avoid travel.
“As far as risks to people here in the St. Joseph area right now at least that’s largely a function of travel to the areas where Zika is found and the best way to stay up on that is through monitoring CDC’s website,” Dr. Folk said. “Pregnant women are currently being advised to deffer travel to areas where Zika virus has been reported.”
(AP and Post Staff contributed to this article)