The Zika virus remains a public health concern with the Centers for Disease Control issuing a warning to pregnant women traveling to Brownsville, Texas. The town, which sits near the Mexican border, has recorded multiple cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus since late November.
Concerns regarding the Zika virus have simmered the last few months, with the CDC announcing it is no longer a public health emergency. But clearly, there is still a long-term struggle ahead, as the virus continues to pop up in warm climates.
ABC News reports how the CDC has now designated Brownsville as a “yellow” area. So, the virus has been identified in multiple instances, but there’s no evidence of a major spread yet. Dr. John Hellerstedt, the commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, says the cases include three men and one woman (who isn’t pregnant). These cases are localized, but officials are acting out of an abundance of caution:
“Right now, we’re aware that local transmission has occurred in a small area of Brownsville. However, we want to cast a wide net with testing to develop a clearer picture of what is happening with Zika in the area and provide pregnant women with more information about their health.”
The U.S. spread of Zika previously appeared to only taking place in Florida, but Texas could see more developments. Doctors are urging women who traveled to Brownsville on or after October 29 to be tested for the virus.
(Via ABC News)