Number of Confirmed Zika Cases Is Now 18

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The Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed three additional cases of the Zika virus in the territory.

This raises the total confirmed cases from 14 to 18.

Two of the three new confirmed cases were pregnant women.

Before the new cases, the number of pregnant women confirmed to have the Zika virus was 6.

Babies born of women who had the Zika virus in Latin America had birth defects and health authorities in the US are still trying to confirm the link between Zika and babies born with small heads.

DOH advises women who are pregnant or trying to become impregnated to visit a health clinic early if they experience any symptoms of Zika.

They should also ask about Zika testing as soon as possible.

The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis or reddening of the eyes.

Other symptoms are muscle pain and headache.

Health clinics at Tafuna, Leone, and Amouli offer free prenatal care and lab service for pregnant women during their entire pregnancy.

DOH reminds the public to fight the bite all summer long.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long pants, and long sleeved shirts and shoes and use bug spray with DEET.

You can also keep mosquitoes out of your home by using screens on windows and doors, emptying out and scrubbing all
containers inside your home that hold water like vases or flower pot saucers and use insecticides as directed to kill mosquitoes.

DOH will also remove large item like unused tires, refrigerators or washing machines for free.

Contact 731-7511 or 699 8690.

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