Kamloops woman suspects she caught the Zika virus

Jan 29, 2016 | 10:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — The World Health Organization is using the words ‘alarming’ and ‘explosive’ to describe the zika virus that’s spreading rapidly across the Americas.

The virus is linked to birth defects in babies, so pregnant women are advised not to travel to regions where they would be vulnerable.

A Kamloops snowbird living in Barbados believes she contracted the virus leaving her ill for more than a week.

WATCH: Bronwen Scott speaks exclusively to CFJC Today from Barbados

It’s a disease carried and passed on by mosquitos.

Bronwen Scott lives in Kamloops half of the year and the other half resides in the tropics of Barbados.

She says for eight days she had symptoms matching those of the Zika virus.

“It came on as a terrific headache and then I was really tired all of the sudden,” says Scott.

She says shortly after her body was covered in a rash.

“Three or four days into the illness all my joints swelled up and got sore. My shoulders, ankles, knees and hands.”

There have been only three confirmed cases of the virus in Canada.

The federal Health Minister was out with a warning this week for Canadians to monitor the Public Health Agency of Canada website for precautions when traveling. 

While the focus in some countries is to manage mosquito populations, the World Health Organization is considering declaring Zika a global emergency.

Meantime, Canada and cities like Kamloops are likely not to be impacted because we have different species of mosquitos.

While the virus continues to spread explosively – officials are frantically trying to come up with a vaccine that could take up to 5 years.

It’s also estimated up to 4-million people will be infected in the next year.