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| Zika virus outbreak | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 16 Jan 2016, 02:02 AM (815 Views) | |
| skibboy | 16 Jan 2016, 02:02 AM Post #1 |
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15 January 2016 Haiti hit with Zika virus outbreak: official © AFP/File | The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne ailment similar to dengue fever that is rapidly spreading through the Caribbean PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) - Haiti's health ministry said Friday the country has been hit by an outbreak of the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne ailment similar to dengue fever that is rapidly spreading through the Caribbean. Health Minister Florence Duperval Guillaume confirmed the outbreak at a press conference, saying that she too, was recovering from a bout of the illness. "Even I fell ill," the minister said, although she did not have the diagnosis confirmed by testing. A health lab in Trinidad and Tobago confirmed on Thursday that five out of 11 Haitian blood samples tested positive for the disease -- a finding suggesting that it could be rampant in this impoverished nation. There have been no known fatalities from Zika, but the virus is of particular concern to pregnant women, because it can lead to birth defects and miscarriage. Zika is spread by the Aedes genus of mosquitoes, some varieties of which also spread dengue virus, yellow fever virus and Chikungunya. A female mosquito bites an infected person and then carries the virus to the next person she bites. Symptoms, which usually are relatively mild, can include fever, rash, conjunctivitis and headache. In more serious cases, they can include muscle pain, swelling and an itchy rash. Haitian officials have been taken to task for what critics said has been a slow response to the outbreak. Source:
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| skibboy | 8 Jul 2016, 01:15 AM Post #76 |
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07 July 2016 Puerto Rico sees 'rapid increase' in Zika: US health chief © AFP/File | A woman holds a leaflet with information on the Aedes aegypti mosquito on February 17, 2016, in Cali, Colombia MIAMI (AFP) - Zika virus is spreading fast in Puerto Rico, infecting as many as 50 pregnant women per day and raising the risk of birth defects, US health officials said Thursday. Meanwhile, lawmakers continued to disagree about funding the effort to combat the mosquito-borne disease despite expert warnings that the virus -- which can cause microcephaly and other brain malformations -- will probably spread to other parts of the United States this summer. "This is a great concern," Tom Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters during a conference call. "What we are seeing in Puerto Rico today is a very rapid increase in the level of infection," he added. "Such that we think each day dozens -- and potentially as many as 50 more pregnant women -- in Puerto Rico are becoming infected with Zika virus." The US territories -- which include Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands -- have diagnosed and recorded 2,526 cases of Zika so far, which Frieden called "a very small fraction of the total." The United States itself has already documented more than 1,130 travel-associated cases, meaning people acquired the virus outside the country or by having sex with a returning Zika-infected traveler, Frieden said. A total of 320 US cases involve pregnant women, he added. Most of those pregnancies are ongoing. Seven infants have been born with Zika-linked birth defects in the United States and five pregnancy losses with birth defects have taken place. - Funding fight - Lawmakers remained deadlocked over Zika funding, with some Democratic senators warning that the legislative session will soon go into summer recess without having approved the $1.9 billion President Barack Obama has requested to fight the virus. Republicans put forward a $1.1 billion measure to fund the Zika response, but attached unrelated provisions including restrictions on funding to Planned Parenthood, which provides reproductive health services. Democrats say such additions make the bill certain to fail. "This is irresponsible partisan behavior," said Florida Senator Bill Nelson, whose state is expected to be among the hardest hit by Zika because of its close proximity to the tropics. "We have just one week," New York Senator Chuck Schumer said. "And Republican leaders have no plans to get a bill passed." "This is not a day late and a dollar short," he added. "They are four months and 1.9 million dollars short." Source:
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| skibboy | 9 Jul 2016, 12:21 AM Post #77 |
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08 July 2016 Continental US records first Zika-related death © AFP/File | The Salt Lake County health department said an elderly resident of the state of Utah died in late June after being infected with the Zika virus, making it the first death related to the virus in the continental United States LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A resident of the western US state of Utah who was infected with the Zika virus has died, making it the first Zika-related death in the continental United States, officials said Friday. The Salt Lake County health department said the elderly victim, who had an underlying health condition, died in late June after traveling to a country where the Zika virus is active. "While this individual did test positive for Zika virus, the exact cause of death has not been determined, and it may not be possible to determine how the Zika infection... contributed to the death," the health department said in a statement. It added that the identity of the person who died or their travel history would not be released. In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a man in his 70s infected with the Zika virus had died from complications of the infection on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, which is part of US territory. US health officials said earlier this week that the virus is spreading fast on the island, infecting as many as 50 pregnant women per day. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus and many people infected won't have any symptoms, according to the CDC. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable as the virus causes birth defects. Source:
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| skibboy | 14 Jul 2016, 01:14 AM Post #78 |
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13 July 2016 Peru declares Zika emergency across half of country © AFP/File | A child looks at information displayed by the Peruvian Health Ministry on mosquitos (Aedes aegypti) that transmit Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya virus in Lima on January 27, 2016 LIMA (AFP) - Peruvian officials on Wednesday declared a Zika health emergency across the northern half of their country after confirming that 102 people have been infected with the virus. The 90-day emergency was announced in the official gazette El Peruano, which said the health ministry and local authorities were working to prevent the spread of the disease, which is principally transmitted by mosquitos. The cases detected so far include 34 pregnant women. Zika is seen as a cause of microcephaly - abnormally small heads and brains - in babies. A major Zika outbreak in neighboring Brazil, where nearly 1,600 babies have been born with the birth defect, has prompted concerns for athletes and visitors ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month. There is growing evidence that in limited cases Zika can also be transmitted sexually. In adults and children it usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms and a rash. But it has been linked to neurological problems such as a potentially fatal paralysis known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Source:
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| skibboy | 14 Jul 2016, 11:32 PM Post #79 |
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Zika epidemic will end in three years, study suggests 1 hour ago ![]() Researchers predict that it could be a decade before the next large-scale Zika outbreak in Latin America The current Zika epidemic is likely to end within three years because there will be too few people left to infect, a team of scientists is predicting. Writing in the journal Science, they said this could lead to a gap of 10 years before the next epidemic. The Imperial College London team created a model using data from the current outbreak in Latin America. But a Zika expert said predicting anything with any degree of certainty was impossible. The scientists, from the Medical Research Council Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling at Imperial, calculated that the epidemic, which began in Brazil in 2015, would burn itself out within three years. Because the virus is unable to infect the same person twice, as more and more people become infected, reaching a level called "herd immunity", infection levels fall and the epidemic dies out. Until there was a new generation who had not been exposed to Zika virus, there would be a long period with few new cases, the researchers said. They said this mirrored the pattern of other epidemics, such as chikungunia - a virus similar to Zika. Microcephaly link Earlier this year, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency because of the risk to newborn children. Although Zika infection is largely mild, with most people having no symptoms, it is known to cause microcephaly - babies born with undersized heads. In severe cases, children can die and babies who survive can face intellectual disability and developmental delays. The Olympic Games are going ahead in Rio, Brazil, in August, despite recent concerns from leading scientists that holding the event is "unethical". ![]() In Brazil, health workers have tried to target the mosquito which transmits Zika virus The research paper said the current outbreak was not "containable" and targeting the Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying the virus would have limited impact. Prof Neil Ferguson, lead author of the research, said that any efforts to slow the spread of the virus could actually prolong the current epidemic. "Slowing transmission between people means the population will take longer to reach the level of herd immunity needed for transmission to stop. "It might also mean that the window between epidemics could actually get shorter." More questions However, Prof Ferguson said there were still many unanswered questions about Zika which could affect predictions. The virus could become endemic in Latin America which would result in smaller, frequent outbreaks, for example, and he said no-one yet understood why Latin America was particularly affected. "One possibility is climate may have in some way aided spread of the virus, as spread coincided with an El Nino event," he said. "Genetic mutation of the virus might also have played a role, although early data currently give limited support for this hypothesis." He added that previous exposure to Dengue fever might heighten the Zika infection in a person, as recent studies had suggested. But Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said although the paper was interesting, there were still a lot of gaps in the data. "In truth, there are so many really important scientific unknowns surrounding Zika that it is impossible to predict what will happen with any degree of certainty. "Key questions that remain unanswered include how many people have been infected, the duration that people are immune to the virus once they have been infected, whether or not past exposure to related viruses like Dengue affects Zika susceptibility and if wildlife reservoirs of virus now exist." He added: "These will only be answered with improved diagnostic tests and further research in the laboratory and out in the field." Source:
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| skibboy | 19 Jul 2016, 12:09 AM Post #80 |
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18 July 2016 Zika virus passed from Utah patient to caregiver © AFP/File | A family contact was infected with the Zika virus from an elderly man who died of the virus in the US state of Utah, raising the prospect of Zika, which is spreading quickly through Latin America MIAMI (AFP) - A elderly man who died of Zika virus in Utah appears to have transmitted the infection to a family contact who was a caregiver, US health officials said on Monday. The second person has since recovered from the infection, which is primarily spread by mosquitoes but is also known to be spread through sexual contact. However the newest case raises the prospect of a new and previously unknown path of transmission for a virus that is capable of causing birth defects and has spread quickly through Latin America. "We are learning something new about Zika virus every day," said Erin Staples, a medical epidemiologist with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press conference. "This situation appears to be unique," she said. The elderly patient had an "unusually high level of virus in the blood," though it is still not known exactly how the infection spread to the second person, described as a "family contact," Staples added. Other suspected modes of transmission have been ruled out -- including having traveled to a Zika-affected area or having had sex with an infected person, Staples said. A statement issued by the CDC said the man, who died, had "uniquely high amounts of virus -- more than 100,000 times higher than seen in other samples of infected people -- in his blood." The elderly victim, who had an underlying health condition, passed away in late June, after traveling to a country where the mosquito-transmitted virus is active, the Salt Lake County health department said. As of mid-July, US health officials have reported 1,306 cases of Zika in the continental United States and Hawaii. None of these cases have been the result of local spread by mosquitoes. Fourteen have involved sexual transmission and one was the result of a laboratory exposure. Zika virus can cause a variety of symptoms including rash and joint and muscle pain, but often carries no symptoms at all. It is primarily of concern to women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant, because the virus carries the risk of causing irreversible brain defects in the fetus. Source:
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| skibboy | 20 Jul 2016, 12:10 AM Post #81 |
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Unusual US Zika virus case baffles experts 8 hours ago ![]() Experts are trying to work out exactly how a US carer has caught Zika after tending to a dying elderly man with the virus. Until now it was thought that only mosquitoes and sex spread Zika, as well as the risk of mother-to-child transmission in the womb. The carer, from Utah, did not have any of these known risk factors. US officials say they are monitoring the situation carefully and carrying out more tests. They stress that the chance of spread from one person to another without sexual contact is still very unlikely or rare. The Centres for Disease Control says the patient, who died in June, had travelled to an area where Zika-infected mosquitoes are present. Lab tests showed he had uniquely high amounts of the virus - more than 100,000 times higher than seen in other samples from infected people - in his blood. The CDC has sent out an emergency response team to investigate. They will be interviewing and testing family members of the carer and any health care workers who may have had contact with the deceased man. Gary Edwards, director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, said the infected individual was a family contact of the man who died. "We know that the patient had contact with the deceased patient while the deceased patient was very ill," he said. "The exact nature of that contact, we are still investigating." The investigators also plan to trap and test local mosquitoes to check that they are not carrying and spreading the virus. Tom Hudachko, from the Utah Department of Health, said state officials were not aware of any mosquitoes known to carry the Zika virus within Utah. He said there had been a few Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - the kind that carry Zika - discovered in traps in the south-western parts of the state several years ago, but there had not been any since. CDC expert Dr Erin Staples said: "The new case in Utah is a surprise, showing that we still have more to learn about Zika. "Fortunately, the patient recovered quickly, and from what we have seen with more than 1,300 travel-associated cases of Zika in the continental United States and Hawaii, non-sexual spread from one person to another does not appear to be common." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How Zika can spread - Bites from mosquitoes that carry the virus - Maternal transmission from mother to baby in the womb - Unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse - although rare, the virus can persist in semen - Zika virus has been found in other bodily fluids, including saliva and urine, but it is unknown whether it can spread through these routes - Blood transfusion - very likely but not confirmed ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Source:
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| skibboy | 23 Jul 2016, 12:39 AM Post #82 |
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22 July 2016 Zika found in sperm after record 93 days: report PARIS (AFP) - The Zika virus has been found alive in a man's sperm after a record 93 days, according to a new report that adds to the many unknowns surrounding the foetus-harming germ. The 27-year-old Frenchman's semen tested positive for Zika in March this year, three months after he experienced symptoms of an infection picked up while travelling in Thailand last October and November. The case was reported in The Lancet medical journal this week. The previous longest recorded virus survival in semen was 62 days after the onset of symptoms. Benign in most people, Zika has been linked to microcephaly -- a shrinking of the brain and skull -- in babies, and to rare, potentially-fatal adult-onset neurological problems. It is transmitted mainly though the bites of infected mosquitoes, in rare cases via sex, but also through the placenta to unborn children. In an outbreak that started last year, about 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika in Brazil, and more than 1,600 babies born with microcephaly, according to the World Health Organization. The new case highlights that people returning from areas where Zika is non-endemic, such as Thailand, can also be infected, said the report authored by health specialists from Toulouse in southern France. The possibility of "protracted" virus presence should be kept in mind when people plan to have children, it added. The existing six-month period for monitoring virus survival in infected people "should be expanded to patients returning from non-epidemic areas," wrote the team. Source:
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| skibboy | 25 Jul 2016, 11:11 PM Post #83 |
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Spain registers first Zika microcephaly birth in Europe 4 hours ago ![]() A baby boy with microcephaly in Brazil. The condition is marked by a smaller head size A woman in Spain infected with the Zika virus has given birth to a baby with the brain disease microcephaly, thought to be the first such birth in Europe. Authorities revealed in May they had detected microcephaly in the foetus but the couple decided to keep the baby. Felix Castillo, the neonatal chief at Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron hospital, said that the child's vital signs were "normal and stable". The baby was born by caesarean section after 40 weeks of pregnancy. Mr Castillo confirmed that the circumference of the child's head was "smaller than normal and that it has microcephaly". He said the child was being constantly monitored, adding that the parents were "very excited" about the birth. Contracted abroad The case is believed to be the first in Europe. A pregnant woman in Slovenia who was found last month to have the Zika virus decided to have an abortion. Spain has had 190 known cases of Zika infection to date, according to its health ministry. Of those, 189 were contracted abroad, one by sexual transmission. Authorities say the mother caught the virus on a trip abroad but did not specify in which country. The virus is prevalent in Latin America, particularly Brazil. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ![]() How Zika can spread - Bites from mosquitoes that carry the virus - Maternal transmission from mother to baby in the womb - Unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse - although rare, the virus can persist in semen - Zika virus has been found in other bodily fluids, including saliva and urine, but it is unknown whether it can spread through these routes - Blood transfusion - very likely but not confirmed ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ According to a report in the science journal Nature Microbiology, projections suggest about 93.4 million people will catch the virus, including roughly 1.65 million pregnant women. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency because of the risk to newborn children. Although Zika infection is largely mild, with most people having no symptoms, it is known to cause microcephaly. In severe cases, children can die and babies who survive can face intellectual disability and developmental delays. Source:
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| skibboy | 27 Jul 2016, 11:25 PM Post #84 |
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Florida investigates four mysterious Zika infections 19 minutes ago ![]() Health officials are concerned mosquitoes in the US may be carrying the Zika virus Health officials in Florida are investigating four cases of Zika that do not appear to be related to travel. So far cases outside of Latin America and the Caribbean, where the virus is prevalent, have been spread by travel to that region or sexual transmission. The four Florida cases have raised the possibility that mosquitoes in the US have begun to carry the virus. Zika causes only a mild illness in most people but the virus has been linked to severe brain defects in newborns. Florida officials say they have not drawn any conclusions and are still looking into how the virus was transmitted. The four cases were detected in the Miami-Dade and Broward counties. To confirm whether Zika is being carried by mosquitoes locally, scientists will survey houses and people within a 150-yard (metre) radius of the cases, the flying radius of the insect. US experts were baffled last week by another case, in Utah, in which a carer caught Zika after tending to a dying elderly man with the virus. And earlier this week, a Spanish woman infected with Zika gave birth to a baby boy with the brain disease microcephaly, thought to be the first such birth in Europe. In February, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency because of the risk to newborn children. In severe cases, children can die and babies who survive can face intellectual disability and developmental delays. Source:
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| skibboy | 29 Jul 2016, 12:38 AM Post #85 |
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28 July 2016 Miami blood donations halted over Zika fears MIAMI (AFP) - US regulators Thursday called for a halt to blood donations in the Miami area as investigators probe four potential non-travel associated cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause birth defects. If confirmed, the cases would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the mainland United States. The US territory of Puerto has already seen a surge in local transmission of Zika, which can spread by mosquitoes or sexual contact. "In consideration of the possibility of an emerging local outbreak of Zika virus, and as a prudent measure to help assure the safety of blood and blood products, FDA is requesting that all blood establishments in Miami-Dade County and Broward County cease collecting blood immediately," said a statement from the US Food and Drug Administration. This freeze should remain in place until each individual unit of blood collected in the two counties can be tested "with an available investigational donor screening test for Zika virus RNA or until the blood establishments implement the use of an approved or investigational pathogen inactivation technology," it said. Two of the suspected non-travel cases are in Miami-Dade County, and two are in Broward County which is just to the north of Miami. The FDA also said anyone who has traveled to Miami-Dade or Broward county in the past four weeks should be temporarily barred from donating blood. "Additionally, FDA recommends that adjacent and nearby counties implement the precautions above to help maintain the safety of the blood supply as soon as possible," said the federal agency. Florida has already seen 381 cases of Zika, all involving people who were infected while traveling to parts of the world where the virus is circulating. For Zika to become a homegrown virus in the mainland United States, a mosquito would have to bite a Zika-infected person and then bite another person, passing on the virus. Health officials have warned of possible localized Zika outbreaks in the United States, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in the past two years. If a pregnant woman is infected with Zika, it raises the risk of her bearing an infant with microcephaly, a permanent defect which results in children being born with unusually small heads. Source:
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| skibboy | 29 Jul 2016, 11:40 PM Post #86 |
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Zika virus: Florida cases 'likely' to be first US-based infections 4 hours ago ![]() The Zika virus is spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito Four people suffering from the Zika virus in Florida are probably the first cases contracted within the US, health officials say. So far, cases outside of Latin America and the Caribbean, where the virus is prevalent, have been spread by travel to that region or sexual transmission. The four Florida cases mean US mosquitoes may be carrying the virus. Zika causes only a mild illness in most people but the virus has been linked to severe brain defects in newborns. The Florida department of health said "a high likelihood exists that four cases are the result of local transmission", centred on one small area just north of downtown Miami. More than 1,650 cases of Zika have so far been detected in the United States, but the Florida cases would be the first in the US not involving sexual contact or foreign travel. "This is not just a Florida issue," Gov Rick Scott said. "It's a national issue - we just happen to be at the forefront." In the latest reaction: - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they anticipated more cases will emerge over the coming weeks - CDC chief Tom Frieden said infection occurred "several weeks ago" and that there were no plans to restrict travel to Florida - The White House said President Obama had directed that all necessary resources be given to help Florida beat the virus - White House spokesman Eric Schultz repeated criticism of Congress for not agreeing to fund the fight against Zika before breaking for summer - The US Food and Drug Administration has asked for blood donation in both affected counties to be suspended - Gov Scott said all donations already made would now be tested for Zika Two of those suffering from the virus are in Miami-Dade county and the other two in neighbouring Broward county. They are the most densely populated counties in Florida. Gov Scott said the cases involved three men and a woman, and that none had been hospitalised. ![]() To confirm whether Zika is being carried by mosquitoes locally, scientists are surveying houses and people within a 150-yard (metre) radius of the cases, the flying distance of the insect. In February, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency because of the risk to newborn children. In severe cases, children can die and babies who survive can face intellectual disability and developmental delays. Gov Scott asked all residents of affected areas to get rid of standing water, where mosquitoes thrive, and for residents to wear insect repellent. Source:
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| skibboy | 31 Jul 2016, 12:36 AM Post #87 |
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30 July 2016 New microcephaly cases in Honduras raise alarm bells © AFP/File / by Noe LEIVA | Microcephaly is a rare neurological disorder that causes a baby's head to be smaller than normal and prevents its brain from fully developing CHOLUTECA (HONDURAS) (AFP) - Six Honduran women have delivered babies with the birth defect microcephaly in just three days, raising fresh concerns about the spread of the Zika virus, doctors said on Saturday. All six cases of the Zika-linked birth defect were registered at the same hospital in Choluteca, a city just south of the capital Tegucigalpa that has been particularly hard-hit by the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can also spread through sexual contact. "These six cases have alarmed us and we think they are connected to Zika," epidemiologist Gustavo Avila said. "Every year a child is born with microcephaly, but six over the course of three days is alarming." Zika infections -- which cause flu-like symptoms and a rash -- have been reported in dozens of countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. However, the virus poses a particular danger to pregnant women, who if infected face a higher risk of bearing infants with microcephaly. The birth defect causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. Honduras has detected 27,869 cases of Zika this year, according to Health Minister Yolani Batres. The rise in infants born with microcephaly, which causes irreversible malformations, has been most acute in Brazil. Honduran health officials have mobilized to destroy mosquito breeding sites with the support of some 2,000 military troops and local institutions. by Noe LEIVA Source:
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| skibboy | 1 Aug 2016, 10:42 PM Post #88 |
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Zika: Mums-to-be get Miami warning 1 hour ago ![]() Pregnant women have been warned not to travel to a Zika-affected part of Miami after another 10 cases were identified. The victims were probably infected by local mosquitoes in the Wynwood area. Pregnant women who had been in the zone since 15 June were urged to get tested, while those planning a baby should wait eight weeks after leaving the area. The illness, which is most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, is linked to defects including small-head syndrome, or microcephaly, in newborns. The governor of Florida, Rick Scott, also called for an emergency response team to be set up, to investigate and combat the virus's spread. On Saturday, England's public health agency advised mums-to-be to postpone non-essential travel to Florida. At that point, only four cases of Zika that were believed to have been contracted from mosquitoes within Florida had been confirmed there. They were thought to be the first of their kind in the US. Other Zika cases were among people returning from infected areas overseas. The 14 latest Florida cases may have come about because the victims were bitten by mosquitoes that had themselves became infected by biting people who had brought the virus back from their travels to the Caribbean and South America. Mr Scott said the new warning advises women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant to avoid the square mile area just north of central Miami. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the travel notice. The CDC said that women who had been in Wynwood or had travelled there since 15 June and were in the first or second trimesters (weeks one to 27) should get tested. It also recommends women not get pregnant for eight weeks after leaving the area. Mr Scott said: "Florida has a proven track record of success when it comes to managing similar mosquito-borne viruses. "While I encourage all residents and visitors to continue to use precaution by draining standing water and wearing bug spray, Florida remains safe and open for business." However, the CDC said mosquito control efforts were not working as well as hoped. Of the 14 individuals identified, two are women and 12 are men. Source:
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| skibboy | 3 Aug 2016, 12:43 AM Post #89 |
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02 August 2016 Zika suspected in 6 deaths in Honduras © AFP/File | Babies born with microcephaly in the Intensive Care Unit at the South Hospital in Choluteca, Honduras on July 28, 2016 TEGUCIGALPA (AFP) - Six people have died and 10 babies have been born with defects in Honduras in cases feared to have been caused by Zika, the health minister said Tuesday. Tests were being carried out to confirm whether the cases were the result of the virus, which is most commonly transmitted by mosquitos and, more rarely, through sexual contact. The fatalities were due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disorder brought on by the immune system attacking the nerves, which can cause paralysis, according to the minister, Mireya Batres. The latest death was a 15-year-old boy, she told local broadcaster HRN and other media. The number of babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small skulls and underdeveloped brains, has risen from six to 10, Batres said. The tallies were higher than the minister's last count given June 26, when she spoke of three Guillain-Barre deaths and eight microcephaly cases. Authorities in the tropical Central American country were conducting campaigns to try to reduce populations of the Aedes aegypti mosquito known to transmit Zika. So far this year they have counted nearly 30,000 cases of Zika infection. Source:
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| skibboy | 3 Aug 2016, 11:59 PM Post #90 |
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03 August 2016 Second Zika vaccine trial gets under way in US © AFP/File / by Kerry Sheridan | The mosquito-borne Zika virus can cause birth defects and is now spreading in the US and Latin America MIAMI (AFP) - US health authorities Wednesday launched the second human trial of a vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause birth defects and is now spreading in the US and Latin America. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Zika virus investigational DNA vaccine will be given to 80 healthy volunteers aged 18-35 at three study sites in the United States, said the federal agency. The first dose was delivered Tuesday, the NIAID said in a statement. "A safe and effective vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection and the devastating birth defects it causes is a public health imperative," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci. "Results in animal testing have been very encouraging. We are pleased that we are now able to proceed with this initial study in people." Fauci, who has previously warned that any vaccine against Zika would take years to develop, described the trial's launch as "an important step forward." The drug is a DNA vaccine that is similar to another experimental vaccine developed by NIAID against West Nile virus. It cannot infect people with Zika, but is designed to make the body mount an immune response to Zika. DNA vaccines "have been shown to be safe in previous clinical trials for other diseases," the NIAID statement said. The first Zika vaccine trial got under way last month. Led by Pennsylvania-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the phase 1 trial using a Zika DNA vaccine called GLS-5700 is being conducted in Quebec City, Canada, as well as Miami and Philadelphia. - Active transmission - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 50 countries and territories, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently have active transmission of Zika virus. The United States last month announced its first locally transmitted cases of Zika in Miami, with more than a dozen infections among non-travelers. The CDC has issued a travel warning for a square-mile area where the Zika-infected mosquitoes are believed to be lurking. There is no cure for Zika. In four out of five cases, it causes no symptoms. People who do feel sick from it may experience a rash, joint pain or eye infection. However, in pregnant women Zika can cause permanent damage to the developing fetus, including microcephaly, a condition in which the infant's skull and brain are unusually small. Women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant are urged to avoid areas where Zika is circulating, and take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Barrier methods of contraception are also recommended, since the virus can be spread by sexual contact. Initial results from the NIAID vaccine trial are expected in January 2017. If it appears safe, a phase 2 trial in Zika-endemic countries could begin soon after. A study out last month in the journal Science projected that the Zika pandemic would fizzle out in the next two to three years. Zika cannot infect the same person twice, so once a large number of people build up immunity to it, the surge in cases will subside, argued lead author Neil Ferguson, a professor at Imperial College London's School of Public Health. "This means by the time we have vaccines ready to be tested, there may not be enough cases of Zika in the community to test if the vaccine works," he said. by Kerry Sheridan Source:
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| skibboy | 4 Aug 2016, 11:31 PM Post #91 |
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Zika vaccines show early promise 1 hour ago ![]() Three different ways of designing a vaccine have been shown to be completely protective against the Zika virus. Scientists found all three offered protection in tests on rhesus monkeys. Zika has been deemed a public health emergency, because it can cause serious birth defects. Teams around the world are working to design a vaccine that can be given to people, but it is likely to be years before any is ready for widespread use. More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing transmission of Zika, which is carried by mosquitoes. The scientists in this latest study used three different approaches often used in vaccine development - one was an inactive, and therefore harmless, replica of the virus and two others used parts of the Zika virus's genetic code. All three offered complete protection and none were linked to major side-effects. 'Years away' The US scientists, including experts from the military, say their results mark a further promising step forward in the search for a jab against the Zika virus. The next step will be early trials, possibly later this year, to establish that the vaccine is safe and effective in humans. But British experts were clear that any of the vaccines would take time to develop. Dr Ed Wright, senior lecturer and virologist at the University of Westminster, said: "All of the vaccines currently under development are many years away from being licensed and available for widespread public use." Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: "We knew that these vaccines worked in mice and now the researchers have shown that they also protect non-human primates from Zika virus infection. "The next step will be to see if these vaccines are safe and the scientists hope to start early trials in humans to address this." But he said there were still many questions about how a Zika virus would behave - including whether or not they would be effective in people exposed to related viruses such as dengue. Source:
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| skibboy | 9 Aug 2016, 12:02 AM Post #92 |
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Florida investigating another Zika case outside Miami 2 hours ago ![]() Health officials in Florida are spraying a Miami neighbourhood to combat the spread of Zika The Florida Department of Health is investigating another case of Zika contracted in the state. The person lives in West Palm Beach County about 70 miles (113km) north of the initial transmission zone. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the state officials still believe that active transmission zone for the virus is one square mile (3sq km) in Wynwood neighbourhood in North Miami. The infected person had recently travelled to the Miami area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously issued a travel warning for the neighbourhood, particularly focused on pregnant women. The virus is known to cause a severe birth defect called microcephaly, which can infants to develop abnormally small heads. With the school year about to begin, Governor Scott said the state is sending mosquito repellent to school districts in affected and neighbouring counties. The outreach covers primary school through public universities. In Miami, where 16 locally transmitted cases of Zika have been confirmed, the state has sprayed against mosquitoes and tried to remove standing water, where the insects breed. They've also encouraged the public at large to use insect repellent on their own. Source:
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| skibboy | 9 Aug 2016, 11:19 PM Post #93 |
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Texas baby dies from Zika-linked defect 2 hours ago ![]() The Zika virus can be transmitted via mosquitoes A baby born in Texas with the Zika-linked birth defect microcephaly has died, health officials say. The baby was infected in the womb while the mother was travelling in Latin America, though state officials have not identified where. The defect causes abnormally small heads and other developmental damage. Florida Governor Rick Scott also announced four more people had contracted the Zika virus, bringing the state's total to 21 cases. Harris County, where the baby was born, now has two reported cases of babies born with microcephaly. The case is the first Zika-related death reported in Texas. The Zika virus, frequently transmitted by mosquitoes, often causes no symptoms, but is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. In a statement, the Texas Department of Health Services said there was no risk of locally contracted Zika in Texas. There are 97 cases of the virus in Texas. The Florida Department of Health said officials believe the active transmissions are likely only taking place within the Wynwood neighbourhood in Miami-Dade County. Governor Scott urged Congress and President Obama to take action. "This is not only an issue affecting us here in Florida," the governor said in a statement. "This is a national issue." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton echoed the governor's plea while on the campaign trail, calling on congress to hold a special session to pass a Zika funding bill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nationwide there are 15 cases of Zika-related birth defects and six pregnancies losses associated with infection. The baby's death comes a day after Florida health officials identified a man in West Palm Beach who had contracted the virus. Florida is the only state in the US to have local cases of Zika. Source:
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| skibboy | 11 Aug 2016, 12:16 AM Post #94 |
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Zika linked to baby joint deformities By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online 10 August 2016 ![]() Zika infection during pregnancy may cause limb joint deformities in the baby, experts now fear. Brazilian researchers from Recife, the city at the centre of the Zika epidemic, describe seven suspect cases in the journal The BMJ. The virus, which has been spreading across much of the Americas and has deterred some people from visiting the Olympic host country, is already known to cause a serious baby brain defect. Mothers-to-be are urged to be vigilant. ![]() Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika, and those living in Zika zones should avoid the biting mosquitoes that carry and spread the disease. Experts now agree that Zika is capable of causing lasting brain damage to babies in the womb. The virus can cross the placenta from the mother to her unborn child. And there is growing evidence that it can trigger a rare, weakening condition of the nerves, called Guillian-Barre syndrome, in adults. Dr Vanessa van der Linden and her team in Brazil say they are now seeing limb joint problems in newborn babies that might be caused by Zika too. The seven babies with suspected Zika infection that they studied in hospital had been born with hip, knee, ankle, elbow, wrist and/or finger joint problems that fit with a medical diagnosis called arthrogryposis. The deformities of arthrogryposis, or crooked joints, are caused by faulty muscles - some too tight or contracted and some too flaccid - that have pulled and held the baby's growing body in unnatural positions. ![]() Some of the babies had dislocated knee joints Dr Linden's team suspect the Zika virus attacks brain nerve centres supplying the muscles around the joints, rather than the joints themselves. Scans of the babies' brains appear to support this idea. All of the seven babies they examined tested negative for other congenital (pre-birth) infections, such as rubella and HIV, that might have been a possible cause of their deformities. Most had microcephaly as well as the limb deformities. Dr Linden says that, since writing up her findings, she has seen 14 more babies with similar problems and is running more tests. Prof Jimmy Whitworth, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that while not concrete proof, the evidence that Zika might be to blame was "pretty compelling". "Microcephaly is the most obvious sign of congenital infection with Zika, but it's becoming clear that's just part of the whole spectrum of damage that can be caused by the virus." He said the challenge was stopping the spread of the infection and caring for those who will be affected in the long as well as the short term. "Studies suggest the current epidemic could go on for three or four years," Prof Whitworth said. "We think there's going to be tens of thousands of babies who could be affected by Zika. "Meeting their physical and psychosocial needs will be the real challenge." Source:
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| skibboy | 12 Aug 2016, 11:39 PM Post #95 |
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Zika found to remain in sperm for record six months 7 hours ago ![]() The Zika virus has been found in the sperm of an Italian man six months after his first symptoms, twice as long as in previously reported cases. Doctors at the Spallanzani Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome said it pointed to the possibility that the virus was reproducing itself in the male genital tract. The infection is suspected of leading to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. Zika is spread by mosquitos. The outbreak was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation in February. The doctors' report suggests the potential for the sexual transmission of the virus may be greater than previously thought. ![]() A 10-year-old Brazilian boy holds his two-month-old brother, who was born with an underdeveloped brain known as microcephaly Current guidelines recommend infected patients should use condoms or abstain from sex for at least six months after the onset of symptoms. The doctors said in light of this new evidence an extension of this recommendation might be advised, as well as the continued testing of semen after six months. Christian Lindmeier from the WHO told the BBC the report would be looked at. "The Zika outbreak is a constantly evolving situation and every new piece of evidence is looked into and evaluated as to whether or not guidelines will need to be revised." The patient, who was in his early 40s, first presented symptoms after returning to Italy after a two-week visit to Haiti in January. The patient reported he had received mosquito bites in Haiti, and his symptoms included fever, fatigue and a skin rash. Follow-up testing showed the Zika virus was still present in his urine, saliva and sperm, 91 days after the onset of symptoms. After 134 days it was only detectable in his sperm and this remained positive after 181 days. Previously the longest registered symptoms remaining in the body after their onset was 93 days, found in a 27-year-old Frenchman. "The results of this study confirm that the virus could replicate specifically in the male genital tract and may persist in semen," the Italian team said. Source:
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| skibboy | 18 Aug 2016, 01:53 AM Post #96 |
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17 August 2016 Guatemala confirms first Zika-linked microcephaly, paralysis © AFP/File | A pregnant woman gets an ultrasound in Guatemala City on February 2, 2016 GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - The main hospital in Guatemala's capital on Wednesday confirmed the country's first case of a Zika-linked birth defect in a newborn and two cases of a related nerve disorder. A 70-year-old man and a five-year-old girl were diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological autoimmune condition which can cause paralysis, Carlos Mejia, head of the infectious diseases clinic in the Hospital Roosevelt, told a news conference. "We have also detected the first case of microcephaly compatible with Zika," he said. Microcephaly is where babies are born with abnormally small skulls and underdeveloped brains. Zika is most commonly transmitted by mosquito, although rarer cases of transmission through sex have been identified. Mejia said tests were being carried out out on two other babies to determine whether their mothers had contracted Zika while pregnant. He added that there have been no confirmed deaths from conditions linked to the virus, but there was a report of a man infected with Zika dying of severe pneumonia. Zika has swept through much of Latin America, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare an international public health emergency in February this year. Source:
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| skibboy | 19 Aug 2016, 12:55 AM Post #97 |
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18 August 2016 Zika virus infection may harm adult brain: study © AFP | Just what effect Zika infection might have on the adult human brain over time remains unclear MIAMI (AFP) - Research using lab mice has shown for the first time that infection with the mosquito-borne Zika virus may damage adult brain cells, not just developing fetuses, said a study Thursday. Adult cells involved in learning and memory can be destroyed by the viral infection, which is also blamed for a surge in the birth defect microcephaly, according to the findings in the journal Cell Stem Cell. "Zika can clearly enter the brain of adults and can wreak havoc," said co-author Sujan Shresta, a professor at the La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology. Researchers know that Zika can be "catastrophic for early brain development," she added, but often adults who are infected show no symptoms. Those who do feel sick may report rash, body pain, and red eyes. "Its effect on the adult brain may be more subtle, and now we know what to look for," said Shresta. Researchers focused on neural progenitor cells, which are the early forms of brain cells that go on to become neurons. Researchers describe them as the stem cells of the brain. Zika can attack these neural progenitor cells in the developing fetuses, leading to microcephaly in babies, born with unusually small heads, brain damage and disabilities. Adult brains retain some niches of these neural progenitor cells, which replenish neurons in parts of the brain linked to learning and memory. Using fluorescent biomarkers in mice, the researchers saw that adult neural progenitor cells that were engineered to be vulnerable to Zika infection were killed off by the virus. The study found that Zika infection was linked to a four- to 10-fold drop in the mice's adult stem cell proliferation. Two parts of the brain, including the hippocampus, which is associated with memory, saw evidence of cell death and reduced generation of new neurons, said the study. - 'Dramatic' results - "Our results are pretty dramatic," said co-author Joseph Gleeson, adjunct professor at The Rockefeller University. "In the parts of the brain that lit up, it was like a Christmas tree." Just what effect Zika infection might have on the adult human brain over time remains unclear. Researchers know from past brain studies that integrating new neurons into learning and memory circuits is key to the brain's ability to adapt and change. Without this process, the brain slides into cognitive decline and other conditions, such as depression and Alzheimer's disease, can arise. "It was very clear that the virus wasn't affecting the whole brain evenly, like people are seeing in the (human) fetus," said Gleeson, referring to the mice research. "In the adult, it's only these two populations that are very specific to the stem cells that are affected by virus. These cells are special, and somehow very susceptible to the infection." Until now, global health authorities have been primarily concerned with the danger Zika poses to pregnant women and their fetuses. Zika has also been linked to a disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to nervous system problems such as weakness and paralysis. Shresta said the emergence of Guillain-Barre, which usually develops after the Zika infection has cleared, could be linked to the infection of adult neural progenitor cells. But more research is needed. The mice model of Zika infection may not reflect how the virus acts on humans. "In more subtle cases, the virus could theoretically impact long-term memory or risk of depression," said Gleeson. "But tools do not exist to test the long-term effects of Zika on adult stem cell populations." Source:
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| skibboy | 20 Aug 2016, 12:19 AM Post #98 |
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Zika in Florida: Pregnant women warned to avoid Miami Beach 1 hour ago ![]() Health officials are warning pregnant women to avoid travelling to Miami Beach Pregnant women have been warned to avoid the international tourist destination Miami Beach, amid cases of the Zika virus. Authorities had previously thought the virus was limited to Wynwood, a small area west of Miami Beach. Health officials now say five people in Miami Beach have been infected. Florida health officials have been aggressively spraying pesticides there. Zika, often spread by mosquitoes, can cause life-threatening birth defects. "We're in the midst of mosquito season and expect more Zika infections in the days and months to come," Tom Frieden from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday. Florida has now had 36 cases of the disease, not counting those that were connected to travel outside the US. Known for its Art Deco architecture and expensive shops, Miami Beach attracts millions of tourists each year. ![]() Florida health officials have been spraying pesticides in recent weeks Critics have said that Florida Governor Rick Scott has been delaying the release of information and downplaying the threat of Zika to protect the state's billion-dollar tourism industry. But Governor Scott said the state was taking every measure to ensure the information they provided to the public was accurate. "We recognise the desire for information quickly, but it is important that we conduct our interviews and investigations pursuant to epidemiological standards," he said. Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, said the transmission of Zika in Miami Beach "is the most alarming development yet in the rapidly growing threat of Zika in the United States". Senator Reid along with Governor Scott urged Congress to provide additional funding to the area. Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been at odds for months over a bill that would contribute to the aid efforts in Florida. Source:
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| skibboy | 24 Aug 2016, 12:18 AM Post #99 |
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Zika virus: Florida announces five new cases 5 hours ago ![]() The total number of non-travel related cases stands at 42 in Florida Florida's governor has announced five new cases of Zika, including one in the Tampa Bay area, 265 miles (425 km) north of Miami. Four other cases of the virus, which is often spread by mosquitoes, were found in Wynwood in Miami, where officials have sprayed pesticides. The Tampa case involves a woman in Pinellas County without a travel history, suggesting local transmission. The news brings the total number of the state's local transmission cases to 42. The governor said officials have yet to declare Pinellas County as a zone of active transmission despite the new case in the area. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is investigating whether the Pinellas County resident was infected while visiting a neighbouring county, he added. "While this investigation is ongoing, DOH still believes that ongoing active transmissions are only occurring in the two previously identified areas in Wynwood and Miami Beach," the governor said in a statement. Mr Scott said authorities have cleared half of the area in Wynwood believed to be the source of ongoing active transmission and were working to begin aggressive spraying and mosquito abatement efforts in Pinellas County. ![]() Mr Scott says authorities have cleared half of the affected Wynwood area State health officials have warned pregnant women against travelling to Miami Beach over concerns of Zika, which can cause life-threatening birth defects. Health officials believe the virus can cause microcephaly, in which infants develop with abnormally small heads. Critics of the state's response have accused Mr Scott of delaying updates on the crisis in an effort to downplay the threat to Florida tourists. But Mr Scott has said he and the state remain "fully committed" to help counties combat the virus's spread. The governor has also urged Congress to release additional funding to the the state over Zika concerns. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Zika virus around the world - More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing transmission of Zika - Cases of Zika-related birth defects have been centred in Brazil, with about 1,800 instances confirmed to date - At least 1,955 people in the US have contracted Zika while travelling outside of the country, and about 22 cases have been sexually transmitted - So far 25 people have contracted the virus from local mosquitoes in Florida - The US territory of Puerto Rico has seen nearly 6,500 locally acquired cases and 30 associated with travel Sources: WHO, CDC, Florida Department of Health ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Source:
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| skibboy | 26 Aug 2016, 12:59 AM Post #100 |
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25 August 2016 Hong Kong reports first case of Zika virus © AFP/File | Hong Kong's first Zika-infected patient is said to be a 38-year-old female who had travelled to a Caribbean island HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong authorities reported the city's first Zika virus infection Thursday, which they described as an imported case of the disease blamed for birth defects. The Zika-infected patient was said to be a 38-year-old female who had travelled to a Caribbean island, before complaining of pain in the joints and red eyes. "Initial investigations show that the patient had travelled to the island of St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean Sea from August 6th to the 20th...she remembered that she was bitten by a mosquito," Leung Ting-hung, head of the Centre for Health Protection, told reporters late Thursday. The woman underwent a blood and urine test at an outpatient clinic at a private hospital on August 23, Leung said, describing her as a "foreigner" who lived in the rural district of Tseung Kwan O and worked in the financial district of Central. Test results revealed she had Zika virus Thursday. Leung said she is now being treated under quarantine in hospital and is in a stable condition. "We will carry out relevant preventive and control measures to prevent further spread of the disease, as this is essentially a mosquito-borne disease, so the most important thing is to control the mosquito population in Hong Kong," Leung said. Until now, global health authorities have been primarily concerned with the danger Zika poses to pregnant women and their foetuses. Zika causes only mild symptoms for most people. But in pregnant women, it can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads. The virus has also been linked to a disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to nervous system problems such as weakness and paralysis. However, new research earlier this month using lab mice showed for the first time that Zika may damage adult brain cells involved in learning and memory. The outbreak of the virus began in Brazil in early 2015 and has spread to neighbouring countries. In southern United States, the state of Florida has reported a total of 524 Zika cases, most of them brought in by people who were infected while travelling to Latin America. Thirty-six cases were locally transmitted, according to the state department of health. Hong Kong is particularly alert to the spread of viruses after an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) swept through the city in 2003, killing 299 people and infecting around 1,800. Bird flu scares in the past two years have seen mass culls of up 20,000 birds in Hong Kong. Source:
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