The U.S. centers for disease control and prevention said on the 20th that after changing the statistical approach of Zika virus infections, the cases of infections in pregnant women in the United States has climbed doubled. According to statistics so far, 279 pregnant women have been infected with Zika virus.
Head of CDC Birth Defects Centre Margaret Hu Naiyin said on that day's telephone press conference that the United States would begin to change Zika infections statistical methods from then on: pregnant women either with or without signs of infection would be counted as Zika cases as long as the diagnosis is positive. Hu Naiyin said as of May 12, according to new statistics calculation, 157 pregnant women in the continental United States were found infected with Zika virus; 122 people found in US territories; while according to the old statistical methods, the total cases are only 112 pregnant women.
Previously, the US statistics only counted people who show positive Zika diagnosis and symptoms of infection. But some latest reports show that some pregnant women whose Zika virus detection was positive but didn't have symptoms of infection also gave birth to a baby with microcephaly or other serious brain defects.
On the same day, US President Barack Obama listened to report on the Zika problem from his public health team in the White House. And after the meeting, he said the continental United States currently had total more than 500 cases of Zika infections, most were infected when traveling abroad; in addition, the Puerto Rico belonging to United States had more than 800 cases. Obama also urged the US Congress to approve $ 1.9 billion emergency fund to deal with the threats of Zika virus.
The World Health Organization announced on the 20th that the laboratory of French Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal confirmed that the Zika virus epidemic popular in Cape Verde in Africa is the same with the Zika virus which is currently popular in America. The virus is likely to be spread from Brazil to Africa.
This is the first time scientists have found the type of American Zika virus in Africa. WHO noted that African countries would reassess the risks and adjust their preparation to face the outbreak of Zika. It is suggested that African countries should make their effort to control mosquito to reduce the risk of being infected.
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