Concern about the Zika virus in the US is escalating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of cases of Zika virus found in pregnant women in the US is now 157, with another 122 pregnant women carrying Zika in US territories. Zika is the “first known mosquito-borne infection to cause congenital anomalies in humans” including microcephaly and brain abnormalities.
[CDC Head Gives Sobering Zika Testimony, Warns Of U.S. Mosquitoes]
About half of those identified with the Zika virus are asymptomatic, a group the CDC was not previously tracking. Among those who are showing symptoms the most common symptom is rash, reported in 88% of symptomatic Zika-infected pregnant women. About 50% showed fever and 50% showed arthralgia.
