Puerto Rico Reports First Case of Zika, a Mosquito-borne Disease

A U.S. Congressman has stated that Puerto Rico has reported its first case of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that has been spreading across South America and the Caribbean.

Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, said his office had been in touch with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

‘Puerto Rico has reported its first case of Zika. Authorities said there is no reason for panic, and the public should continue to take the usual steps to avoid mosquito bites.’

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"There is no reason for alarm, and the public should continue to take common sense steps to avoid mosquito bites, like using repellent and wearing long pants and shirts," Pierluisi said.

Zika was first detected in Africa in the 1940s. Brazilian authorities in November linked Zika to a surge in babies born with microcephaly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this month said that Brazil has reported as many as 2,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly, or unusually small brains.

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The UN health agency said the cause of the outbreak in Brazil had yet to be determined.

The main clinical symptoms of Zika are low-grade fever, conjunctivitis, transient arthritis/arthralgia and maculopapular rash that often starts on the face and then spreads throughout the body.

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Source-Medindia