Fears that Zika will spread to Florida: British medics warn pregnant women of risk from virus which leaves babies deformed

              

Zika virus is common in parts of Africa and South East Asia, but since 2007 there have been various outbreaks outside of the disease's comfort zone. It spread to South America in 2014, before reaching Mexico and the Caribbean last year. The first US case was reported in Texas at the start of January

The virus is spread by the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue fever – which has been reported in Florida since 2009. 

Professor Laura Rodrigues, a fellow of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned the virus could potentially affect areas where dengue fever is present.  

This again could have implications for pregnant women travelling to tropical and sub-tropical climates.

She said: ‘I think it's sensible for someone to who is pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, should avoid travelling to countries with Zika. 

If a woman may be pregnant then they should consider the risks. Wherever there is dengue, there is mosquito, then it will spread - and not just in Americas. I think there is a very real chance it will spread in Asia. 

‘Until November we knew nothing, this has caught us by surprise and we're trying to learn as fast as we can.

‘This has been an unprecedented outbreak. It's an emerging virus. Clinically it is very similar to dengue and it has the potential to spread wherever there is dengue.’ 

The warning came as UK health workers were urged to look out for symptoms of the virus in patients returning from countries affected by the outbreak.

Wherever there is dengue, there is mosquito, then [Zika] will spread - and not just in Americas. I think there is a very real chance it will spread in AsiaProfessor Laura Rodrigues, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Officials say the virus should be considered as a potential diagnosis of patients suffering a fever after returning from the Americas.

Zika - which causes symptoms including rash, fever, conjunctivitis and headache - has now been linked to birth defects in children born to mothers infected while they are pregnant.

Specifically, the virus has been linked to microcephaly - in which a newborn's head is smaller than normal and the brain may not have developed properly. 

Today, Britons planning trips to areas affected by the Zika virus were urged reconsider their travel plans to areas where the outbreak has been reported.

The advice came from the National Travel Health Network and Centre in London.  

The  new advice to UK healthcare workers was issued today in a report from Public Health England today.

This states: 'If a case of Zika virus is suspected, appropriate samples for testing (together with a full travel and clinical history with relevant dates) should be sent [off] as early as possible.

It adds that health professionals should also be vigilant for: 

* any increase of neurological and autoimmune syndromes (in adults and children)

* congenital malformations in new born infants (where the cause is not otherwise evident) in patients with a history of travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is known to occur.