China reports 1st case of imported Zika virus

“It hides in closets, under tables and places that are harder to get to….” Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla.

A Reuters review of municipal health records shows that mosquito-borne infections in August of some years can be as bad or worse than in the usual peak months for infections in others. In areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, control programmes rely on the elimination of mosquito breeding sites in the community by, regular inspections, spraying insecticide (particularly during an outbreak), educating local residents to regularly empty standing water and keeping outside areas free from waste items that can collect standing water. “For now however, particularly among female migrants from South America or Europeans visiting Latin America, we need to ensure they remain vigilant when travelling between the two continents”. “If we deal with it prior to an outbreak we’d be much better off”.

Tom Frieden told a congressional committee on Wednesday that much of the effort must focused on mosquito control, especially in southern parts of the USA that harbor the mosquito that spreads the virus. That means other ways of fighting maternal transmission likely wouldn’t work. A public health emergency has been declared in Santa Rosa and six other counties due to the virus. Around one-third of the suspected cases are in Pernambuco state around Recife.

Professor Ronski warned Queenslanders to continue maintaining water tanks and emptying water stored outside as the mosquito species, also responsible for dengue, had been found in the south-east corner previously.

The WHO has advised countries against accepting blood donations from people who have travelled to affected regions. Eleven people contracted the virus in Florida.

The most worrying aspect of the Zika crisis is arguably that it might be a sign of things to come.

Zika is a relatively new disease in the United States. Hemispherx Biopharma is also exploring Zika research programs based on a clinical trial of Alferon to treat the closely related West Nile virus.

“The world is realizing that Zika can be deadly”.

“The vast majority of these children born with microcephaly are going to suffer permanent neurological damage”, he said.

Most Guillain-Barre patients recover, but the syndrome sometimes causes paralysis or even death.

Traces of Zika virus have been found in the brain of an aborted fetus, strengthening the link between the virus and a serious birth defect, scientists revealed today. But he cautioned people not to overreact.

“I think at this point the focus is certainly we want to not distract from the performance piece. If folks are traveling to endemic areas, obviously take the usual precautions”.