Minnesota health officials warn people of Zika virus

[Roehl_JC]

Minnesota health officials are asking doctors to watch for signs of a mosquito-borne virus in sick people who have recently returned from the Caribbean, Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

Federal health officials recently urged pregnant women to consider postponing travel to any region where the Zika virus is circulating.

The illness causes fever, rash and joint pain.

It has also been linked to a rare condition that causes brain damage and abnormally small heads in newborns.,,

http://www.kvrr.com/news/local-news/Minnesota-Health-Officials-Warn-People-of-Zika-Virus/37545196

 

[Pathfinder]

Officials monitoring two Minnesota women who contracted Zika virus while pregnant

Officials monitoring two Minnesota women who contracted Zika virus while pregnant

Health Lorna Benson ? May 26, 2016

State health officials are monitoring two Minnesota women who contracted the Zika virus while pregnant.

The mosquito-born infection can cause severe brain damage in developing fetuses. One woman has already had her baby. And so far there are no signs of a problem with that child, or in the other pregnancy.

Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger says the agency will track the mothers and babies for a year.

"Since this is a new virus, a new infection that we don't know it's natural history, we're going to have to follow some of these babies a lot longer than we would normally," Ehlinger said.

The Health Department is using funds from its maternal and child health program to monitor the women.
...

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/05/26/two-women-pregnancies-monitored-zika-virus-minnesota