Brazil to fund development of vaccine for Zika virus

A baby was born in a hospital in Oahu Hawaii with brain damage caused by a mosquito carrying the Zika virus.

Thus, the researchers said, if Zika virus came to the United States, 22.7 million people – primarily in Southern California, South Texas and Florida – would be at risk of contracting the disease year-round, and possibly 60 million seasonally if both mosquito species were involved. About one in five people infected with Zika virus will develop symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Officials say the mother likely had Zika infection when she was residing in Brazil in May 2015 and her newborn acquired the infection in the womb. Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is abnormally small and brain development is incomplete.

The CDC in particular warned pregnant women not to travel to those areas as Zika had been linked to serious birth defects. The same mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus live in Hawaii and some southern states, therefore, there is a possibility that more cases may be discovered in the near future.

Last November, Brazilian health officials advised Brazilian women not to become pregnant after they discovered a connection between the Zika virus and an alarming increase in microcephaly. While Brazil had an average of 156 babies born each year between 2010 and 2014 with microcephaly, 2015 saw more than 3,000 instances. It looks like the Zika Virus is a pandemic of sorts. A previously obscure illness confined to a narrow equatorial belt of countries, it is transmitted by the same mosquito that spreads dengue fever.

But Hawaii’s Big Island is now battling the state’s largest outbreak of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness, in 50 years. The WHO recommends pregnant women follow the same mosquito precautions as others: Cover up skin, use repellent and insecticide-treated nets, and try to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

“In this situation, an astute Hawaii physician recognized the possible role of Zika virus infection, immediately notified the Department of Health, and worked with us to confirm the suspected diagnosis”.

Brazil also has reported dozens of cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare immune system disorder that can cause temporary paralysis, that appear related to Zika virus.

Some press reports have put the number of infant deaths at 38.

Dr. Glatter says Zika virus started in Africa in the 1940s but there have never been reported outbreaks until now.

“There’s no indication at this point that there’s any Zika virus circulating in Hawaii”, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said.

The little-known virus transmits in a cycle involving mosquitoes and people. It causes only a mild illness in most people.

There is no vaccine to prevent Zika, nor medicine to treat the infected; the only advice health officials have for travelers to the region is to prevent mosquito bites.