The recent Zika virus outbreak started in Latin America. Some cases of Zika virus from people who travelled to Latin America have also been reported in the United States. And now, the Zika virus has come to Russia.
REUTERS reports that Russia has recorded its first case of Zika virus infection from a tourist who acquired the disease in the Dominican Republic. "The first infection with Zika has been recorded. This is a 36-year old Russian woman who was in the Dominican Republic and came back to the Russian Federation in February," Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova informed the media.
The health minister also said that the infected woman's family did not test positive for the Zika virus and that the government are testing people coming from countries affected by Zika virus. "We are extremely cautious," Skvortsova said. "Our specialists have come up with excellent methodological protocols for immediate diagnosis of Zika, and also preventive measures."
The World Health Organization has already declared a global health emergency, with more than 30 countries and territories affected by the Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have already issued a Zika travel notice for countries and territories such as Barbados, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela and many more. Pregnant women are warned to delay their visits to these Zika-affected areas.
The Zika virus has been linked to the development of birth defects like microcephaly in babies as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome. According to Mayo Clinic, microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby's head is much smaller than the normal size as well as brain abnormalities while Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurological disorder that involves a person's nerves being attacked by his own immune system which can lead to paralysis.
