CDC issues preparedness plan for locally acquired Zika cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week issued an interim plan for responding to locally acquired cases of Zika virus infection in the continental U.S. and Hawaii. As of June 15, only travel-associated cases have been reported in the continental U.S., including three infants born with birth defects and three pregnancy losses in U.S. states. The response plan outlines state and CDC activities to prevent and reduce local transmission once it has been identified. According to CDC, Zika infections appear to be increasing rapidly in Puerto Rico, based on a 1.1% infection rate among local blood donations in the week ending June 11. The territory has screened all local blood donations for Zika since April using a highly accurate test. In areas without active Zika virus transmission, the Food and Drug Administration recommends deferring from blood donation people who have had Zika-like symptoms in the past four weeks; sexual contact with someone who has traveled to or lived in an area with active Zika virus transmission in the past three months; or traveled to areas with active transmission in the past four weeks.