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 The state already offers testing to pregnant women who traveled
during pregnancy to an area where Zika is circulating, and to
non-pregnant women, men or children who developed symptoms of Zika
within four weeks of travel to an area with active Zika
transmission.
Only one in five people infected with the Zika virus will develop
symptoms, which are typically mild, but there have been increased
reports of a birth defect known as microcephaly, a condition defined
by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.
Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus
actually causes microcephaly. Brazil said it has confirmed more than
640 cases of the disease and considers most to be related to Zika
infection in mothers. The country is investigating more than 4,200
additional suspected cases of microcephaly.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday advised pregnant women not
to travel to areas with active Zika virus and said sexual
transmission is "relatively common."
WHO director-general Margaret Chan told reporters that microcephaly
is only one of several birth abnormalities associated with Zika
during pregnancy. Others include death, retardation and injury to
the nervous system.
Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of New York's health department,
said that the department is expanding testing "as evidence has
emerged that the risk of sexual transmission is greater than
previously known."
The department is investigating one possible case of sexual
transmission. It recommends, along with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, that men who have traveled to or lived in an
area with active virus transmission abstain from sex or use condoms
throughout their partner's pregnancy.
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The department is also working with local health officials in
counties inhabited by a type of mosquito that could potentially
carry the Zika virus to update and implement a mosquito surveillance
and response plan.
In Central and South America the virus has been transmitted mainly
by the Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which is not present in
New York State. But a related species, known as Aedes albopictus, is
present in New York City and surrounding counties. Researchers are
not sure if Aedes albopictus can effectively transmit the virus.
The WHO said on Wednesday that widespread spraying to eliminate
mosquitoes had failed to stop the spread of dengue fever and the
same may be true of Zika.
(Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington; editing by Grant McCool)
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