116 people affected by Zika in the U.S.

Zika virus is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus has infected at least 116 people, including an infant who was born with a severe brain development disorder, in the U.S., according to a leading American public health institute.

“During January 1, 2015-February 26, 2016, a total of 116 residents of 33 U.S. States and the District of Columbia had laboratory evidence of recent Zika virus infection based on testing performed at CDC,” the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest report.

The CDC said among those who tested positive was an infant. “Cases include one congenital infection and 115 persons who reported recent travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission or sexual contact with such a traveller.” Zika has become an epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean since last fall. CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said that the most frequently reported countries with active Zika virus transmission visited by the patients were Haiti, El Salvador, Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Also, the World Health Organisation said on Friday it is sending a team to Cape Verde to evaluate case of the neurological disorder microcephaly — its first case in Africa — thought to be linked to the Zika virus, in the island nation off West Africa.

Keywords: Zika, microcephaly, CDC, arthralgia