Zika Virus Outbreak Update: Disease Spreading Across US Except in Canada And Chile

The World Health Organization believes that Zika virus will spread in almost all countries of America except in Canada and Chile. The South Central and North America nations have been said to be safe from the epidemic.

"Aedes mosquitoes -- the main vector for Zika transmission -- are present in all the region's countries except Canada and continental Chile," WHO's regional office for the Americas said in a statement. "Twenty-one countries and territories of the Americas have reported cases of the virus since Brazil reported the first cases of local transmission in May 2015."

According to CNN, the mosquito-borne disease is taking South America and other neighboring regions by storm for quite awhile now. Meanwhile, Zika virus is caused by the same mosquito that carries dengue and yellow fever.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine available to control this disease, RT News reported. A person can be infected with Zika through blood transmission and also, it has been seen that it can be transferred from human semen, WHO said.

Although, the public health organization still needs to confirm if Zika can be transmitted sexually.  Additionally, the transmission between mother and child is also being guarded, as well as childbirth and breastfeeding are yet to be examined.

WHO is still trying to prove if Zika can cause brain damage in developing babies, which can result to microcephaly. It is a condition that makes unborn children have an abnormality with their head sizes and developmental delays.

Hence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised expectant moms to avoid travelling in countries, like Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, Samoa, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. They also suggested that pregnant women who already travelled in these areas should undergo screening, tests and be monitored.

Once the illness is developed, the affected person can experience fever, rashes, joint pains and conjunctivitis just within days. It can lead to a quick sickness to a week but, in some cases, it can be life-threatening.