© Ma Qiang / Southern Metropolis Daily / Reuters
It is not known if the infected are currently in the UK
You may not have heard of it until very recently, but new cases of the Zika virus continue to pop up around the world. Spreading mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean, the virus has now been confirmed in three travelers from the UK.
A statement from Public Health England said those infected had recently traveled through South America, but it is not clear if the people involved have since returned to the UK.
The Britons travelled to Colombia, Suriname and Guyana, where they are suspected of contracting the mosquito-borne disease. Public Health England has not confirmed if any of the three are pregnant.
Why is Zika dangerous?
There is no vaccine for the virus, which can cause fever, rashes, joint pains, and conjunctivitis within days of being contracted. For most of those infected, the virus causes a short illness lasting between two and seven days. However, in some rare cases, it can result in serious illness and death.
Infants are most at risk from Zika, as mothers can pass the infection on to their fetus, leading to microcephaly - a rare birth defect where babies are born with abnormally small heads and developmental delays.
Treatment for the Zika virus focuses on pain relief and fever reduction, with some patients also given antihistamines for itchy skin rashes.
Preventative measures focus on general mosquito bite prevention, such as using insecticides, and special nets and screens.
Comment: The Health and Wellness Show - 20 April 2015 - EMF Exposure Part I