Puerto Rico Declared Zika Epidemic Over, But Experts Say That's Premature quoting : The Huffington Post

The CDC travel notice for Puerto Rico remains in effect, and the agency recommends that women who are pregnant or trying to conceive avoid traveling to Puerto Rico, and that men who have traveled to Puerto Rico use condoms afterward. There's been some controversy about whether Puerto Rico has been underreporting Zika-related birth defects, which fall far short of predictions. Puerto Rico declared Monday that its 2016 Zika outbreak had ended, citing falling virus transmissions. A 2016 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated that Puerto Rico would see between 110 and 290 Zika-related microcephaly cases by mid-2017. The CDC is working with Puerto Rico to standardize its reporting.




But there have only been 10 new cases reported since the end of April, according to the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The Puerto Rico Department of Health has reported only 38 cases of Zika-related birth defects. As of May 20, the most recent data available, the Puerto Rico Department of Health reported (PDF) 40,330 confirmed cases of the Zika virus since the outbreak began last year. Among those cases, there have been 52 Zika-related cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome , a type of temporary paralysis that is caused by viruses including Zika. Story highlights The US territory has confirmed 40,330 cases of Zika since the outbreak began last yearA public health emergency was declared in August, when the number of cases surpassed 10,000(CNN) The Zika virus epidemic that's been plaguing Puerto Rico for the past year is over, the governor's office announced Monday.

Puerto Rico declares Zika epidemic to be over

Health officials and experts have expressed concern about underreporting of birth defects in Puerto Rico. (Allison Shelley for The Washington Post)Puerto Rico's Zika epidemic has ended, officials said Monday, noting substantially fewer new cases this spring. Cemeteries like this one in San Juan are perfect breeding grounds for the mosquito that can carry dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. The island has been the part of the United States hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus, with authorities counting more than 40,000 confirmed cases of Zika infection as of May 20, including 3,678 pregnant women. In the continental United States, with 1,579 Zika-infected pregnant women, there have been 80 pregnancy losses or babies born with birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


collected by :Lucy William
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