Cuba reports first case of Zika transmitted on the island

The Health Department says mosquitoes that cause Zika aren't out when you would expect them to be.

A total of three Alabamians have now been confirmed to have contracted travel-related cases of Zika virus, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Other suspected cases may include patients who have experienced symptoms within two weeks after traveling from countries with confirmed reported cases of Zika virus, and patients who have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Among the symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rashes, red eyes, joint pain, headaches and malaise.

Study coauthor Dr. Simon Cauchemez, of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, and colleagues say their findings provide further evidence that Zika virus is associated with increased risk of microcephaly - a neurological condition that can result in babies being born with smaller-than-normal heads.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found cases where the virus has been sexually transmitted or spread via blood transfusion, the release said. "The Department of Health also continues to test pregnant women without symptoms of zika".

In a new study, researchers looked at the risk of microcephaly in fetuses and newborns whose mothers are infected with Zika virus.

But, Ms Garin said not all pregnant women infected by the Zika virus will give birth to babies with microcephaly. There are no reported cases of Zika being acquired in Ohio.

Former NFL player Kevin Turner dies after battle with ALS
Turner's 18-year-old son, Nolan, recently committed to play football at Clemson for Dabo Swinney, a former teammate at Alabama. Former NFL fullback Kevin Turner died Thursday at the age of 46 after battling ALS for six years, ESPN reports.

She added that the DOH listed Zika virus as a Category I disease, which means cases of suspected infection must be reported to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau within 24 hours.

Freedman cautioned that the 1 per cent absolute risk may not apply in other countries where Zika is spreading.

Meanwhile, health experts have warned the mosquito borne virus is just one of a growing number of diseases that could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

But another researcher not involved in the study said the figure seems too low given the birth defects seen in Brazil.

Garin said 3,000 more kits arrived from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in addition to the 2,000 that had been earlier delivered to the RITM.

In French Polynesia, 66 percent of the population was infected by Zika during the course of the outbreak, according to the study.

Staying in screened or air-conditioned rooms or sleeping under mosquito nets, wearing insect repellent at all times and wearing long trousers, long sleeves, shoes and hats.

Go to the ODH website at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/zika for more information about Zika virus.