Zika cases found in European tourists

AFP, COPENHAGEN: Denmark and Switzerland on Wednesday joined a growing number of European countries to report Zika infections among travellers returning from Latin America, where the mosquito-borne virus has been blamed for a surge in birth defects.
“A Danish tourist who travelled to Central and South America was diagnosed on his return with the Zika virus,” a hospital in eastern Denmark said in a statement late Tuesday.
The Danish patient was a young man who was expected to make a full recovery, the head of Aarhus hospital, Lars Ostergaard, told public broadcaster DR.
Two people returning to Switzerland from Haiti and Colombia were also diagnosed with the virus, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said.
Neither was pregnant and neither required hospital care, the statement said.
Health watchdogs in a string of European countries meanwhile said they had recorded Zika cases dating back to as early as March 2015.
The Netherlands confirmed 10 cases and Britain five, all among people returning from South America.
In Italy, the Spallanzani National Institute of Infectious Disease said four cases were recorded in March 2015, while in Portugal, the health ministry said four Portuguese had been infected. All eight had been travelling in Brazil.
A woman in the Swedish capital Stockholm was diagnosed with the virus in July 2015, the Swedish Public Health Agency confirmed Wednesday.
“The symptoms were treated and the woman recovered,” said Karin Tegmark Wisell, head of microbiology at the health agency. In Moscow, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said the Russia authorities had been “monitoring (Zika) since it appeared.
“Now we are working on controlling it as soon as any strange strains appear ... to have domestic medication for prevention and treatment.”
President Vladimir Putin added: “We need to pay attention to this ... work with transportation companies, airlines, understand the signs and react quickly.”
“Of course mosquitoes cannot fly over the ocean, but infected people can and do.”

Zika cases found in European tourists

AFP, COPENHAGEN: Denmark and Switzerland on Wednesday joined a growing number of European countries to report Zika infections among travellers returning from Latin America, where the mosquito-borne virus has been blamed for a surge in birth defects. A Danish tourist who travelled to Central and South America was diagnosed on his return with the Zika virus, a hospital in eastern Denmark said in a statement late Tuesday. The Danish patient was a young man who was expected to make a full recovery, the head of Aarhus hospital, Lars Ostergaard, told public broadcaster DR. Two people returning to Switzerland from Haiti and Colombia were also diagnosed with the virus, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said. Neither was pregnant and neither required hospital care, the statement said. Health watchdogs in a string of European countries meanwhile said they had recorded Zika cases dating back to as early as March 2015. The Netherlands confirmed 10 cases and Britain five, all among people returning from South America. In Italy, the Spallanzani National Institute of Infectious Disease said four cases were recorded in March 2015, while in Portugal, the health ministry said four Portuguese had been infected. All eight had been travelling in Brazil. A woman in the Swedish capital Stockholm was diagnosed with the virus in July 2015, the Swedish Public Health Agency confirmed Wednesday. The symptoms were treated and the woman recovered, said Karin Tegmark Wisell, head of microbiology at the health agency. In Moscow, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said the Russia authorities had been monitoring (Zika) since it appeared. Now we are working on controlling it as soon as any strange strains appear ... to have domestic medication for prevention and treatment. President Vladimir Putin added: We need to pay attention to this ... work with transportation companies, airlines, understand the signs and react quickly. Of course mosquitoes cannot fly over the ocean, but infected people can and do.