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As WHO declares Zika virus a ‘Global Health Emergency,’ what does that mean for the U.S., St. Louis?

gavin rice | Flickr | http://bit.ly/23yE1Ru
As of Friday, at least 31 people in the U.S. have been infected with the Zika virus.

As of Friday, at least 31 people in the U.S. have been infected with the Zika virus. That includes three pregnant women — two in Illinois and one in New York. The virus has been reported across the globe in Africa, South Asia, Polynesia, as well as Central and South America.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash and conjunctivitis. It has been associated with microcephaly birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It spreads to people via mosquito bites.

Dr. Alexander Garzsa
Credit Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio
Dr. Alexander Garza

The CDC has issued a travel alert for people traveling to regions and countries where Zika virus transmission is an issue. As of Monday, the World Health Organization declared the virus a “Global Health Emergency.”

“It puts countries that are signatory on notice that they should be doing certain things, looking for the disease, surveillance,” said epidemiologist Dr. Alexander Garza, associate dean of public health practice at Saint Louis University and the former medical director of the Department of Homeland Security.

Although warnings about the disease continue to mount, Garza maintains an air of calm, saying that the potential for a Zika virus outbreak in the U.S. is relatively small.

“Although it is prevalent south of the border, North America is a different environment,” Garza said.

For starters, the mosquito that transmits the virus is only found in some southern states. In Missouri, not at all. Secondly, the environment in the United States is different than in Brazil and vector control is much easier here. That means that more Americans have access to air conditioning and the ability to stay inside during seasons where mosquitos are rampant.

Currently, the majority of cases are transmitted by mosquitos biting someone with the disease and carrying it to another person. One case of sexual transmission has been reported, and the virus has been found in semen, but no further conclusions have been drawn.

The largest threat to the U.S. is travelers that go to Central and South America and come back to the U.S. with the virus. How infectious is the disease?

Garza said it is probable that the disease will be transmitted within the U.S.  – more likely in Southern states—but he does not believe it is a widespread risk given the controls on the mosquito population, the lack of virus in circulation here, and less exposure to the outdoors.

Child-bearing females are most at risk because the virus may cause abnormal formations in fetuses, although the relationship has not been confirmed by the CDC, Garza said. The formations are still relatively rare, he said.

Zika virus was first discovered in the mid-1900s in Africa, travelled to Polynesia and eventually came to Central and South America. Many postulate that it was brought to the Americas by the World Cup. Garza said that is worrying some about the upcoming Olympics in Rio.

"Nobody is immune to diseases happening in far-off places. We should be aware of this and think about how we can prevent disease from spreading not just in the U.S. but also across the seas as well. It does us a lot of good to help other nations deal with emerging infectious disease."

For travelers inside the United States, Garza recommends basic mosquito repellant, wearing long sleeves outdoors and being indoors as much as you can.

Although the virus is likely not to have as much of an effect on U.S. residents as it is having elsewhere in the world, Garza said it is a good time to take stock of how we think of infectious disease in a global society.

“On the good side, it does get people to understand we do live in a global society and a disease can spread across the ocean at a rapid rate,” Garza said. “Nobody is immune to diseases happening in far-off places. We should be aware of this and think about how we can prevent disease from spreading not just in the U.S. but also across the seas as well. It does us a lot of good to help other nations deal with emerging infectious disease. Eventually, it will make its way to our country whether we want it to or not.”

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

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Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.