A 2006 file photo of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/James Gathany
A 2006 file photo of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/James Gathany

(by The Canadian Press and News 1130)  The country’s chief public health officer says the threat to Canada from the mosquito-borne Zika virus is, in his words, “very, very low.”

Dr. Gregory Taylor says there have been four recent cases in Canada — two in BC, one in Alberta, and a newly disclosed case in Quebec — all of them involving people who recently travelled to affected areas.

Taylor says his agency is monitoring the situation as the virus spreads, particularly in South America. He says the mosquito that carries the virus is not established in Canada and is not adapted to the country’s climate.

“Only about 20 to 25 per cent of people infected with the virus develop symptoms, which can include fever, headache, conjunctivitis or pink eye, rash, and joint or muscle pain,” adds Taylor

Dr. Theresa Tam with Health Canada discussed blood donations from people who may have just travelled or who could potentially be infected.

“Canada is working with blood donation organizations to really look at the period of deferral for blood donations,” says Tam.

“After someone might be infected by a mosquito, the virus is only present in the blood for a very short period of time,” she adds.

Taylor says there is no international consensus on how long blood donors should wait to donate upon returning from countries affected by Zika. It’s suggested that people who donate blood regularly do so before travelling instead of after. They are advised to wait at least one month after returning from a country affected by the virus before making another blood donation.

Tam notes the risk of sexual transmission of Zika is considered low, but adds more information is needed.

The Zika virus has been linked to cases of microcephaly, or abnormally small heads in newborns. It is recommended that pregnant women or people who believe they could become pregnant should speak to their doctors before travelling. Doctors say to their knowledge, none of the four cases in Canada involve pregnant women.