Puerto Rico stated that the Zika 2016 epidemic is over, saying that transmission of the virus that can cause birth defects when exposed to pregnant women has fallen
About 10 cases of mosquito-borne disease have been reported in each four-week period since April 2017, compared to more than 8,000 cases reported in a four-week period at the peak of the epidemic in August 2016, the Department Of Health of Puerto Rico Said in a statement.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention UU. They have not changed their travel advice, noting that pregnant women should not travel to Puerto Rico. The CDC said its travel notice for Puerto Rico remains in effect and that it expects the virus to continue to "circulate indefinitely" in most of the regions where it has been introduced.
The statement from the Department of Health and Human Services of a public health emergency in Puerto Rico related to pregnant women and children born to women with the virus remains in effect, the CDC said in an e-mail statement.
On its website, the CDC cites public health reports that say "mosquitoes in Puerto Rico are infected with the Zika virus and are spreading to people.
"CDC acting Director Dr Anne Schuchat said in a statement that she is "pleased that the peak of the Zika outbreak in Puerto Rico has come to a close. " However, she said, "We cannot let our guard down. " Schuchat said CDC will continue to focus on protecting pregnant women and work closely with the Puerto Rican health department to support Zika surveillance and prevention efforts on the island, which is a US territory.
A large Zika outbreak began in Brazil in 2015 and quickly spread to dozens of countries. There is no treatment for Zika, but private companies and governments are working on a vaccine.
In addition to Puerto Rico, the CDC has warned of a risk of Zika infection for travelers going to Mexico, Cuba, most of the Caribbean and South America, as well as parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Locally transmitted Zika cases have also been reported in Texas and Florida.
