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On 16 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of a male infant with microcephaly born in the state of Hawaii in December. The mother of the child experienced symptoms compatible with Zika virus infection during her second month of pregnancy, while residing in Brazil; however, at the time, testing for the infection was not performed.View the full article

On 5 February 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of a probable case of sexual transmission of Zika virus. Person A, a resident of Dallas, Texas, travelled to Venezuela for one week between late December and the beginning of January. Several days after returning to the United States, Person A developed symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection, including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and malaise. One day prior to symptom onset and once during the symptomatic period, Person A had sex with Person B (non-traveller). Approximately one week after the onset of illness in Person A, Person B developed symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease, including fever, pruritic rash, conjunctivitis, small joint arthralgia and malaise.View the full article

Between 30 January and 2 February 2016, the National IHR Focal Points of Colombia and Venezuela informed PAHO/WHO of increases in the number of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases recorded at the national level. From epidemiological week (EW) 51 of 2015 to EW 3 of 2016, 86 GBS cases were reported. On average, Colombia registers 242 GBS cases per year or approximately 19 cases per month or 5 cases per week. The 86 GBS cases reported in those 5 weeks is three times higher than the averaged expected cases of the 6 previous years.View the full article

On 5 February 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 28 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including five deaths. Onset dates ranged from 21 December 2015 to 25 January 2016. Cases ranged in age from 14 to 91 years, with a median age of 58 years. Of these 28 cases, 18 (64%) were male. The majority (25 cases, 89%) reported exposure to live poultry or live poultry markets; the exposure history of three cases is unknown or no clear exposure to poultry. No clusters were reported. Cases were reported from six provinces and municipalities: Zhejiang (13), Jiangsu (5), Guangdong (4), Fujian (3), Shanghai (2) and Hunan (1). See attachment for individual case information.View the full article

On 25 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of France notified PAHO/WHO of 2 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Martinique. At present, available information is insufficient to interpret the observed differences in GBS incidence globally and among Brazilian states. The potential cause of the reported increase of GBS incidence in certain Brazilian states remains unknown. Case-control studies are ongoing to determine the cause of the increase. These studies may provide evidence that corroborates or disproves a causal relationship between Zika virus, GBS and other congenital malformations. WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conduct risk assessment based on the latest available information.View the full article

On 22 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Brazil notified PAHO/WHO of an increase of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) recorded at the national level. Data from the hospital-based surveillance system reveal that, between January and November 2015, 1,708 cases of GBS were registered nationwide. While a number of states reported significant increases in reported cases – especially, Alagoas (516.7%), Bahia (196.1%), Rio Grande do Norte (108.7%), Piauí (108.3%), Espirito Santo (78.6%), and Rio de Janeiro (60.9%) – other states reported stable or even diminishing number of GBS cases as compared to 2014. Most of the states in Brazil are experiencing the circulation of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus.View the full article

On 7 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Maldives notified WHO of a case of Zika virus infection with onset of symptoms in June 2015, in a patient returning from Finland. The patient is a 37-year-old Finnish male who returned to Finland on 16 June 2015 after spending several months in the Maldives. On 18 June, the patient developed symptoms (mild fever and rash on the face and trunk, as well as eye pain and arthralgia); however, after a few days, these subsided. View the full article

Between 27 and 30 January 2016, PAHO/WHO was notified of cases of Zika virus infection in Costa Rica, Curaçao, Jamaica and Nicaragua. On 27 January, the National IHR Focal Point of the United States reported of a case of Zika virus infection in a patient returning from Costa Rica.View the full article

Audio File http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/t0205-zika.mp3

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204348/1/zikasitrep_5Feb2016_eng.pdf?ua=1

State of Indiana Response to Avian Flu in Dubois County 2/4/16 New information is in bold italics. BACKGROUND On January 15, it was announced that confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza were found in Dubois County. State, local and federal agencies are working together on containment and depopulation operations. On January 16, nine additional avian influenza detections were announced, with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirming on January 17 that eight flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza. More information on the ninth positive could not be confirmed through the original testing, and more in-depth testing is being conducted at the USDA National Services Laboratory. A 10 kilometer control area has been established, primarily in Dubois County. An extension of an extra 10-kilomenter “surveillance zone,” beyond the 10-km control zone, has been put in place as a precaution. The surveillance zone includes parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites were in Dubois County. CURRENT SITUATION There have been no new positive tests since January 16, but aggressive testing continues inside the 10-km control area and additional 10-km surveillance zone. All commercial poultry farms located in the control area and the surveillance zone have completed at least two rounds of negative tests. Testing will continue within the control and surveillance zone to ensure that no H7N8 remains in the area. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health expects to release the 10-km control area and additional 10-km surveillance zone on Monday, Feb. 22, provided no new HPAI positives are identified. This date marks the end of a 21-day fallow period, as prescribed by USDA, following the establishment of all compost piles. Once the control area and surveillance zones are released, restrictions on movements of all poultry and products (commercial and residential) on all non-infected sites will be lifted by the Indiana State Veterinarian. Quarantines will continue on the infected sites until final site-cleanup requirements are met. Birds have been depopulated on all ten premises. Turkeys are being composted in the buildings in which they were euthanized. The composting process takes about three weeks, after which time, the compost can be used agriculturally because it will not contain the virus. An additional 156,000 hens (chickens) that were NOT infected with H7N8 have been depopulated and disposed of in a landfill. The facility was considered a “dangerous contact” to an infected turkey flock. The laying facility is located very close to an infected barn and shares a vehicular traffic zone with the original site, putting the birds at high risk of contracting the virus. No chickens are infected. Previous depopulation tallies have been based on estimated flock sizes. Final reporting has been completed on all sites, with 258,325 turkeys and 156,178 chickens affected. State and federal teams have visited 1,945 residences in a 10-kilometer radius control area around the original site to search for small, backyard flocks of birds for precautionary monitoring and testing. The second round of testing of the 105 backyard flocks will commence next week to fulfill their testing requirements prior to the release of the 10-km control area. All small flock samples tested so far have been negative. The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University has run more than 2,100 avian flu tests since this incident began. (All negative to date; testing continues daily.) Testing and surveillance of wild, migratory birds in the region is being done by Indiana Department of Natural Resources and USDA Wildlife Services. Several mental health treatment options are available to those affected: -Phone hotline offered by Southern Hills Counseling Center in Jasper, at 812-482-3020. If the call is made after hours, the caller should press 0. -A 24-hour phone hotline through Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center, at 812-827-6222. RESPONSE A total of 111 state, federal and local responders are working in Dubois County on surveillance and response efforts. Equipment and resources staged at the Dubois County Fairgrounds have been demobilized. All facilities used on the grounds have been power-washed and disinfected to eliminate any possibility of virus being present. The fairgrounds has been cleared for normal use, and presents no health risk to humans, livestock, pets or birds. A smaller repository of depopulation equipment has been retained at another location, for rapid response, if needed. STATE RESPONSE A Unified Incident Command Post (UCP) has been established in Jasper, Indiana. The post has been down-sized to reflect the completion of response activity in the county. The District 10 IMT completed duties on Feb. 1. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health continues to be the lead agency. Other state agencies remain on-call, as needed, through the State Emergency Operations Center, which has returned to normal daily operations. FEDERAL RESPONSE The United States Department of Agriculture has approximately 81 representatives, along with private contractors, in Dubois County assisting with state and local efforts. A National Incident Management Team is in place to assist the state of Indiana in final response needs. PUBLIC ADVISORIES Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness. Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/. Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm. Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.

9:05 p.m. Nicaragua is confirming its first two cases of the Zika virus in pregnant women. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo says four women have tested positive for the virus in the Central American nation, including two who are three and one-half and four months pregnant. That brings the country's total known cases of Zika to 15. Murillo says the country is monitoring World Health Organization recommendations and has directed local health authorities to pay close attention to pregnant women who may have contracted Zika. She noted Tuesday that not all pregnant women infected with Zika give birth to babies with the rare condition known as microcephaly. http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/The-Latest-4th-case-of-Zika-identified-in-Spain-6800256.php

11:40 a.m. Officials say laboratory tests have confirmed a fourth case Zika virus in Spain. The southeastern regional government of Murcia said Tuesday that tests carried out by the National Microbiology Center confirmed the case of a man treated two weeks ago at a regional hospital after visiting an unspecified country affected by the virus. The man, who was not identified but was said to be middle-aged and a Spanish resident, has been given the all clear after been treated for the virus and to avoid contagion. The other three cases in Spain also concerned people who had traveled to affected regions in Latin America. WHO is recommending that visitors and residents in affected areas, especially pregnant women, take measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that transmit the virus. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52f57f3f5e0f48f5a9469acad6318faf/latest-4th-case-zika-identified-spain

Australia Confirms 2 Cases of Zika VirusBy MICHELLE INNISFEB. 2, 2016 Advertisement Continue reading the main story Continue reading the main storyShare This PageEmailShareTweetSaveMoreContinue reading the main story SYDNEY, Australia — Health officials in Australia on Tuesday confirmed two cases of the Zika virus in residents who most likely were infected on a visit to Haiti, and the officials also warned pregnant women not to travel to areas where transmission rates are high, like the Caribbean. The two residents, from New South Wales, had mild cases of the virus when they returned from Haiti and have since recovered. The virus does not pose a serious threat to Australia, the Health Department said. Continue reading the main storyRELATED COVERAGE U.S. Case of Zika Infection Transmitted by Sex Reported in TexasFEB. 2, 2016 Zika Virus Sound-Alike, Zica Car of India, Is to Get a New NameFEB. 2, 2016 Zika Virus a Global Health Emergency, W.H.O. SaysFEB. 1, 2016Australia to Begin Monitoring for Zika VirusFEB. 1, 2016 Tears and Bewilderment in Brazilian City Facing Zika CrisisJAN. 29, 2016“It is very unlikely that Zika virus established local transmission in New South Wales as the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, that spread the infection are not established here — although they are found in some parts of North Queensland,” Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, the state’s communicable diseases director, said in a statement after confirming Australia’s first cases of the virus this year. Since 2014, “occasional” cases of Zika have been identified in New South Wales among people who had traveled to areas where the virus has been most commonly transmitted, the statement said. Continue reading the main storyShort Answers to Hard Questions About Zika VirusWhy scientists are worried about the growing epidemic and its effects on pregnant women, and advice on how to avoid the infection. The World Health Organization said on Monday that the virus was an international public health emergency. The main concern is the virus’s possible link to microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with unusually small heads and, in the majority of cases, damaged brains. Australian health officials issued a comprehensive warning to health professionals and travelers on Tuesday, saying that at least 21 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean had reported outbreaks of Zika and that the virus had been spread in Samoa and Tonga, in the South Pacific. “Due to the possibility of severe outcomes for unborn babies, women who are pregnant, or who are planning to become pregnant, should consider delaying their travel to areas with active outbreaks of Zika,” New South Wales health officials said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Health Department also warned that the virus-carrying mosquitoes tend to live and bite people indoors and that they often hide under furniture. Peak biting periods tend to be during the day, and people may not notice they have been bitten. The Health Department also said Tuesday that pesticides would be used in the cabins of some flights arriving in Sydney. “These measures are undertaken to prevent the exotic mosquitoes establishing breeding populations in Australia,” officials said in a statement. The process involves crew spraying airborne insecticides through the cabin, a common practice in Australia and New Zealand to kill soft-bodied insects. Dr. Cameron Webb, a medical entomologist at the University of Sydney, said Australia had had “a trickle of cases of Zika virus coming back into the country over the last decade.” “The virus has been picked up by travelers who have come back into Australia after being in Asia or the Pacific,” he said. “The risks are minimal in Australia because the mosquitoes are only found in far North Queensland, not in the heavily populated cities, and that provides a buffer.” Health officials in far North Queensland increased monitoring programson Monday. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/03/world/australia/zika-virus.html?_r=1

12:15 a.m. Brazilian officials have lowered the country's number of suspected microcephaly cases, to 3,670 from 3,893 on Jan. 20. Brazil's Heath Ministry says the rare brain defect in babies has been confirmed in 404 of those cases. The ministry says microcephaly cases since Oct. 22 have been confirmed in 156 cities in nine states, most in Brazil's impoverished northeast. That region is the epicenter of the outbreak of the Zika virus. The report published Tuesday says 17 of the 404 confirmed microcephaly cases have been linked to Zika infections. Infants with microcephaly have smaller than normal heads and their brains do not develop properly. Many fetuses with the condition are miscarried, and others die during birth or shortly after. Those who survive suffer from developmental and health problems. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52f57f3f5e0f48f5a9469acad6318faf/latest-4th-case-zika-identified-spain

Registration Date: 02/02/2016 19:02:18 the change in the 02/02/2016 19:02:18REPORT CARD Health investigates 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly in the countryThey are being investigated all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system, including the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections The Ministry of Health and the states investigating 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly across the country.This represents 76.7% of reported cases. The new report released on Wednesday (2) points out, too, that 404 cases have had microcephaly confirmation and / or other disorders of the central nervous system, and 17 with respect to the Zika virus. Other 709 reported cases have been discarded. In all, 4,783 suspected cases of microcephaly were registered by 30 January. The new figures show rise in cases already classified as confirmed and discarded in the last week, compared to previous weeks. The growth of the investigated and classified cases was 52%, with respect to the report on 23 January. Were 732 the previous week, rising to the current 1,113. In total there were 76 reported deaths from microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after birth (stillbirth) or during pregnancy (miscarriage). Of these, 15 were investigated and confirmed for microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system, and five had identification of Zika virus in fetal tissue. Another 56 are still under investigation and five have already been discarded. It should be noted that the Ministry of Health is investigating all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system, informed by the states and the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections. The microcephaly can be caused by various infectious agents beyond Zika, such as syphilis, toxoplasmosis, Other Infectious Agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Viral. According to the report, the 404 confirmed cases since the beginning of the investigation on 22 October last year - were recorded in 156 municipalities in nine Brazilian states: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte , Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul. the Northeast region has 98% of the municipalities with confirmed cases, and Pernambuco continues with the greatest number of municipalities with confirmed cases (56), followed by the states of Rio Grande do Norte (31) , Paraíba (24), Bahia (23), Alagoas (10), Piauí (6), Ceará (3), Rio de Janeiro (2) and Rio Grande do Sul (1). So far, they are with indigenous circulation of Zika virus 22 units of the federation. They are: Goiás, Minas Gerais, Federal District, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo , Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Parana. Guidance- The Ministry of Health advises pregnant women to adopt measures to reduce the presence of Aedes aegypti, with the elimination of breeding sites, and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, keeping doors and windows closed or screened, wear pants and shirt sleeve and use repellents allowed for pregnant women. ZIKA - The Ministry of Health will announce in the coming weeks the compulsory notification of cases identified as infection Zika virus in Brazil. Currently, the Unified Health System (SUS) does not account for the number of cases of infections Zika. Currently, the monitoring is done by the sentinel surveillance system to monitor the movement of the virus and provide support for measures to prevent the disease. WHO - The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC) by Zika virus and its possible association with microcephaly and neurological syndromes.The decision was recommended by the WHO Emergency Committee to the President of the organization, Margaret Chan, based on virus understanding of technical information Zika passed by Brazil, France, the United States and El Salvador. The public health emergency of international concern is an extraordinary event that requires a coordinated response. This international recognition should facilitate the search partnerships around the world, bringing together the efforts of governments and experts to address the situation. Brazil has been a protagonist in the management of the increasing cases of microcephaly. When he decreed Emergencies in Public Health National Importance, signaled the WHO possibility of an internationally important event and, since then, we put ourselves at the disposal of the organization for clarification and supply of technical materials. The WHO recommendations no travel restrictions or trade with countries, regions and / or territories with the transmission of Zika virus. It is recommended that people will travel to areas with transmission of Zika virus take appropriate measures to avoid mosquito bites. In Brazil, the recommendation of the Ministry of Health is for the population, especially pregnant and childbearing women, take simple measures that can avoid contact with Aedes aegypti, using repellents, protect themselves from mosquito exposure, keep doors and windows closed or screened and wear pants and long-sleeved shirt. Distribution of reported cases of microcephaly by UF until January 30, 2016 Regions and Federative Units Microcephaly cases and / or malformations suggestive of congenital infection Cumulative total of reported cases 2015-2016 in research confirmed discarded Brazil 3,670 404 709 4783 Alagoas 104 15 66 185 Bahia 508 99 46 653 Ceará 234 7 10 251 Maranhão 132 0 16 148 Paraíba 460 37 253 750 Pernambuco 1,159 153 135 1,447 Piauí 66 27 10 103 large northern river 154 63 15 232 Sergipe 178 0 0 178 Northeast 2,995 401 551 3947 Holy Spirit 52 0 0 52 Minas Gerais 21 0 37 58 Rio de Janeiro 196 2 10 208 Sao Paulo 101 0 25 126 Southeast region 370 2 72 444 Acre 20 0 0 20 Amapá No registry No registry No registry No registry Amazon No registry No registry No registry No registry For 6 0 0 6 Rondônia 1 0 0 1 Roraima 7 0 0 7 Tocantins 84 0 17 101 North region 118 0 17 135 Federal district 3 0 12 15 Goiás 69 0 0 69 Mato Grosso 111 0 46 157 Mato Grosso do Sul 3 0 1 4 Midwest region 186 0 59 245 Paraná 1 0 9 10 Santa Catarina 0 0 1 1 Rio Grande do Sul 0 1 0 1 South region 1 1 10 12 Agency HealthCare Press Release (61) 3315-2005 / 3580/2351 http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/index.php/cidadao/principal/agencia-saude/22032-saude-investiga-3-670-casos-suspeitos-de-microcefalia-no-pais

The Latest: Chile reports its first 3 confirmed Zika cases Feb. 2, 2016 7:32 PM EST 4 photosParaguay Army soldiers clean the backyard of a hospital in an Aedes aegypti mosquito control... Read more PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the battle against the Zika virus (all times local): 1:30 a.m. Hours after reporting Chile's first confirmed Zika infection, Chilean authorities have listed two more cases from the virus that is spreading rapidly in Latin America. The Chilean Health Ministry says all three Zika cases reported Tuesday were contracted outside Chile. It says one person was infected while traveling in Venezuela, one in Colombia and one in Brazil. All are recovering. Chile doesn't have infestations of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can carry such diseases as Zika, dengue and chikungunya. The World Health Organization says Zika is likely to spread to every country in the Americas where the Aedes aegypti is found. That is every nation but Canada and Chile. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52f57f3f5e0f48f5a9469acad6318faf/latest-4th-case-zika-identified-spain

Sexually-transmitted Zika case confirmed in TexasBy JAMIE STENGLEFeb. 2, 2016 7:47 PM EST0 DALLAS (AP) — Health officials in Texas on Tuesday reported the first case of the Zika virus being transmitted within the United States amid the current outbreak in Latin America — a person who was infected through sex. Dallas County health officials said the unidentified person had not traveled but had sex with a person who had returned from Venezuela and fallen ill with Zika, which has been linked to birth defects in the Americas. The virus is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but investigators had been exploring the possibility it could be sexually transmitted. There was a report of a Colorado researcher who picked up the virus in Africa and apparently spread it to his wife back home in 2008, and it was found in one man's semen in Tahiti. "It's very rare, but this is not new," Zachary Thompson, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services, told WFAA-TV in Dallas. "We always looked at the point that this could be transmitted sexually." The CDC says it will issue guidance in the coming days on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus, focusing on the male sexual partners of women who are or may be pregnant. The CDC has already recommended pregnant women postpone trips to more than two dozen countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela. It also said other visitors should use insect repellent and take other precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Sponsored Links The Orange Razor That's Changing An IndustryHarry's 21 Rarely Seen Historical Photos of Famous PeopleYour Daily Dish In the epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean, the main villain identified so far is called Aedes aegypti — a species of mosquito that spreads other tropical diseases, including chikungunya and dengue fever. It is found in the southern United States, though no mosquito-borne transmission has been reported in the continental United States to date. There have been about 30 cases in the U.S. in the last year, all travelers who brought it into the country. The World Health Organization on Monday declared a global emergency over the rapidly spreading Zika virus, saying it is an "extraordinary event" that poses a threat to the rest of the world. The declaration was made after an emergency meeting of independent experts called in response to a spike in babies born with brain defects and abnormally small heads in Brazil since the virus was first found there last year. WHO officials say it could be six to nine months before science proves or disproves any connection between the virus and babies born with abnormally small heads. The CDC said that in the recent Texas case, there's no risk to a developing fetus. Zika was first identified in 1947 in Uganda. It wasn't believed to cause any serious effects until last year; about 80 percent of infected people never experience symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting several days to a week. Symptoms usually start two days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. While Thompson told the television station that the case of sexual transmission is "a game-changer," he added that he didn't want people in Dallas County to overreact. Health officials and Thompson noted that sexual partners can protect themselves by using condoms to prevent spreading sexually transmitted infections. ___ Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c5800d5bf01d4d7883eaea5700ec93ec/sexually-transmitted-zika-case-confirmed-texas

Zika has been sexually transmitted in Texas, CDC confirmsBy Sandee LaMotte Updated 7:38 PM ET, Tue February 2, 2016 | Video Source: CNN Mosquito-borne virus poses risk to pregnant women Stopping the spread of Zika virus in the U.S. Tourism industry rattled by Zika virus, terrorism Dangers of Zika virus Brazil is taking steps against the Zika virus WHO: Zika virus spreading to almost all the AmericasNow PlayingOfficials: U.S. Zika case sexually transmittedWhat is the Zika virus?Zika virus linked to birth defect in newbornsMutant mosquitos to help fight Zika virusWHO: Zika virus 'spreading explosively' Mosquito-borne virus poses risk to pregnant women Stopping the spread of Zika virus in the U.S. Tourism industry rattled by Zika virus, terrorism Dangers of Zika virus Brazil is taking steps against the Zika virus WHO: Zika virus spreading to almost all the AmericasOfficials: U.S. Zika case sexually transmittedWhat is the Zika virus?Zika virus linked to birth defect in newbornsMutant mosquitos to help fight Zika virusWHO: Zika virus 'spreading explosively' Mosquito-borne virus poses risk to pregnant women Story highlightsThis would be the third documented case of sexually transmitted Zika virusCDC calling for avoidance of semen from anyone exposed or sick from Zika (CNN)Zika has been sexually transmitted in Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. It is the first known case of the virus being locally acquired in the continental United States in the current outbreak. The case, announced by Dallas County health officials, involved a patient who had sex with someone who had recently returned from Venezuela infected with the mosquito-borne virus. In a statement to CNN, the CDC said it confirmed the test results showing Zika present in the blood of a "nontraveler in the continental United States." They stressed that there was no risk to a developing fetus in this instance. Based on that, the CDC says it will soon provide guidance on sexual transmission, with a "focus on the male sexual partners of women who are or who may be pregnant." Earlier Tuesday, CDC Director Tom Frieden told CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta: "There have been isolated cases of spread through blood transfusion or sexual contact and that's not very surprising. The virus is in the blood for about a week. How long it would remain in the semen is something that needs to be studied and we're working on that now." Frieden added that studies on sexual transmission are not easy studies to do, but the CDC is continuing to explore that avenue of transmission. "What we know is the vast majority of spread is going to be from mosquitoes," Frieden added. "The bottom line is mosquitoes are the real culprit here." The CDC said it will provide more guidance as more information on sexual transmission is learned, but in the meantime, "Sexual partners can protect each other by using condoms to prevent spreading sexually transmitted infections. People who have Zika virus infection can protect others by preventing additional mosquito bites." History of sexual transmission Before this case, there have been only two documented cases linking Zika to sex. During the 2013 Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, semen and urine samples from a 44-year-old Tahitian man tested positive for Zika even when blood samples did not. Five years before that, in 2008, a Colorado microbiologist named Brian Foy contracted Zika after travel to Senegal; his wife came down with the disease a few days later even though she had not left northern Colorado and was not exposed to any mosquitoes carrying the virus. In addition, the CDC said there have been documented cases of virus transmission during labor, blood transfusion and laboratory exposure. While Zika has been found in breast milk, it's not yet confirmed it can be passed to a baby through nursing. An emergency of international concern Zika is prompting worldwide concern because of an alarming connection to a neurological birth disorder and the rapid spread of the virus across the globe. The Zika virus, transmitted by the aggressive Aedes aegypti mosquito, has now spread to at least 24 countries. The WHO estimates 3 million to 4 million people across the Americas will be infected with the virus in the next year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning pregnant women against travel to those areas; health officials in several of those countries are telling female citizens to avoid becoming pregnant, in some cases for up to two years. Five things you need to know about Zika The virus is linked to an alarming spike in babies born with abnormally small heads -- a condition called microcephaly -- in Brazil and French Polynesia. Reports of a serious neurological condition, called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, that can lead to paralysis, have also risen in areas where the virus has been reported. Health officials have specifically seen clusters of this in El Salvador, Brazil and French Polynesia, according to WHO's Dr. Bruce Aylward. http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/02/health/zika-virus-sexual-contact-texas/index.html

State of Indiana Response to Avian Flu in Dubois County 1/28/16 New information is in bold italics. Note to media – the next situation report will be published Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. BACKGROUND On January 15, it was announced that confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza were found in Dubois County. State, local and federal agencies are working together on containment and depopulation operations. On January 16, nine additional avian influenza detections were announced, with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirming on January 17 that eight flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza. More information on the ninth positive could not be confirmed through the original testing, and more in-depth testing is being conducted at the USDA National Services Laboratory. A 10 kilometer control area has been established, primarily in Dubois County. An extension of an extra 10-kilomenter “surveillance zone,” beyond the 10-km control zone, has been put in place as a precaution. The surveillance zone includes parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites were in Dubois County. CURRENT SITUATION There were no new positive tests since January 16, but aggressive testing continues inside the 10-km control area and additional 10-km surveillance zone. All commercial poultry farms located in the control area and the surveillance zone have completed at least two rounds of negative tests. Testing will continue for several more weeks within the control and surveillance zone to ensure that no H7N8 remains in the area. Birds have been depopulated on all ten premises. Decontamination, cleaning and disposal processes continue on all sites. Turkeys are being composted in the buildings in which they were euthanized. The composting process takes about three weeks, after which time, the compost can be used agriculturally because it will not contain the virus. An additional 156,000 hens (chickens) that were NOT infected with H7N8 have been depopulated and disposed of in a landfill. The facility was considered a “dangerous contact” to an infected turkey flock. The laying facility is located very close to an infected barn and shares a vehicular traffic zone with the original site, putting the birds at high risk of contracting the virus. No chickens are infected. Previous depopulation tallies have been based on estimated flock sizes. Final reporting has been completed on all sites, with 258,325 turkeys and 156,178 chickens affected. State and federal teams have visited 1,945 residences in a 10-kilometer radius control area around the original site to search for small, backyard flocks of birds for precautionary monitoring and testing. A total of 105 backyard flocks have been found, and initial sampling of these flocks has been completed. All small flock samples tested so far have been negative. After initial testing, these flocks will be retested in 14 days. Several mental health treatment options are available to those affected: - Phone hotline offered by Southern Hills Counseling Center in Jasper, at 812-482-3020. If the call is made after hours, the caller should press 0. - A 24-hour phone hotline through Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center, at 812-827-6222. RESPONSE A total of 266 state, federal and local responders are working in Dubois County on surveillance and response efforts. STATE RESPONSE A Unified Incident Command Post (UCP) has been established in Jasper, Indiana. The post is currently staffed by the District 1 Incident Management Team (IMT), along with federal and local partners. The District 1 IMT will be transferring operations to the District 10 IMT on Friday, January 29. With depopulation complete, much of the response staff and equipment is being demobilized. Some staff and equipment will remain in Dubois County to oversee continued testing, composting and disinfection. State Agencies supporting activities in the UCP: The State Board of Animal Health, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Indiana State Police. Other organizations supporting activities in the UCP: United States Department of Agriculture, Vincennes University Jasper Campus, Indiana State Poultry Association, Dubois County Emergency Management Agency and Dubois County Health Department. State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated at Level III and will remain activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support. FEDERAL RESPONSE The United States Department of Agriculture has approximately 83 representatives, along with private contractors, in Dubois County assisting with state and local efforts. A National Incident Management Team is in place, with additional staff continuing to arrive in Indiana to help coordinate efforts. The current National Incident Management Team will be transferring operations to another team on Monday, February 1. PUBLIC ADVISORIES Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness. Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/. Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm. Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Recordkeeping Requirements for Indiana Poultry Purchases, Sales INDIANAPOLIS (27 January 2016)—Last October, in response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza findings throughout the Upper Midwest, Indiana adopted new recordkeeping requirements for Hoosier poultry owners buying and selling birds. At the time, members of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) did not foresee the discovery of the avian influenza H7N8 virus in Dubois County in January—which reinforces the need for good recordkeeping. Recordkeeping Requirements Under the new law, all sellers and buyers of poultry in Indiana must maintain records of flock additions and removals for 3 years. Records must include: names and addresses of buyer and seller, sale date, breed, sex, number of animals and reason for movement. This state requirement applies to all retail, swap meet, flea market, auction and private sales, including barters or trades. “The finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Southern Indiana reinforces the need for the new recordkeeping rule,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “In a disease event of this magnitude, the Board of Animal Health needs the ability to trace bird movements to ensure the disease has not spread. That is why we added poultry to Indiana’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule.” Poultry Entering Indiana For those who purchase birds from out-of-state sources, BOAH reminds buyers that all poultry entering Indiana must have either a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) form VS 9-3. If chicks are purchased from an NPIP-certified hatchery, then the chicks can enter Indiana with a copy of the NPIP form VS 9-3. Information about Indiana’s poultry entry and recordkeeping requirements is available on BOAH’s website at: www.in.gov/boah/2721.htm. Healthy Birds Hotline Poultry owners are encouraged to monitor their birds for any signs of unusual illness or death. Report sick or dead poultry by calling the Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. This toll-free hotline will connect poultry owners with a state or federal veterinarian who can determine if an illness needs more follow-up. National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Poultry owners may certify their flocks in the NPIP program. For information about NPIP in Indiana, visit the Indiana State Poultry Association’s website at: www.inpoultry.com/npip/ or contact the association at: 765-494-8517 [email protected].

State of Indiana Response to Avian Flu in Dubois County 1/25/16 New information is in bold italics. Note to media – the next situation report will be published Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. BACKGROUND On January 15, it was announced that confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza were found in Dubois County. State, local and federal agencies are working together on containment and depopulation operations. On January 16, nine additional avian influenza detections were announced, with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirming on January 17 that eight flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza. More information on the ninth positive could not be confirmed through the original testing, and more in-depth testing is being conducted at the USDA National Services Laboratory. A 10 kilometer control area has been established, primarily in Dubois County. An extension of an extra 10-kilomenter “surveillance zone,” beyond the 10-km control zone, has been put in place as a precaution. The surveillance zone includes parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites are in Dubois County. CURRENT SITUATION There were no new positive tests in the last several days, but aggressive testing continues inside the 10-km control area and additional 10-km surveillance zone. All commercial poultry farms located in the control area and the surveillance zone have completed at least two rounds of negative tests. Testing will continue for several more weeks within the control and surveillance zone to ensure that no H7N8 remains in the area. Birds have been depopulated on all ten premises. Disposal processes have begun on all depopulated sites. Turkeys are being composted in the buildings in which they were euthanized. The composting process takes about three weeks, after which time, the compost can be used agriculturally because it will not contain the virus. An additional 156,000 hens (chickens) that were NOT infected with H7N8 have been depopulated and disposed of in a landfill. The facility was considered a “dangerous contact” to an infected turkey flock. The laying facility is located very close to an infected barn and shares a vehicular traffic zone with the original site, putting the birds at high risk of contracting the virus. No chickens are infected. Previous depopulation tallies have been based on estimated flock sizes. Final reporting has been completed on all sites, with 258,325 turkeys and 156,178 chickens affected. State and federal teams have visited 1,945 residences in a 10-kilometer radius control area around the original site to search for small, backyard flocks of birds for precautionary monitoring and testing. (This number corrects the total residences visited from Friday, which was incorrect) A total of 104 backyard flocks have been found, and sampling of these flocks continues. All small flock samples tested so far have been negative. After initial testing, these flocks will be retested in 14 days. Several mental health treatment options are available to those affected: - Phone hotline offered by Southern Hills Counseling Center in Jasper, at 812-482-3020. If the call is made after hours, the caller should press 0. - A 24-hour phone hotline through Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center, at 812-827-6222. RESPONSE A total of 254 state, federal and local responders are working in Dubois County on surveillance and response efforts. STATE RESPONSE A Unified Incident Command Post (UCP) has been established in Jasper, Indiana. The post is staffed by the District 1 Incident Management Team, along with federal and local partners. State Agencies supporting activities in the UCP: The State Board of Animal Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Integrated Public Safety Commission, Indiana State Police and mental health services teams from the Family and Social Services Administration. Other organizations supporting activities in the UCP: United States Department of Agriculture, Vincennes University Jasper Campus, Indiana State Poultry Association, Dubois County Emergency Management Agency, Dubois County Health Department, Dubois Water Utility, City of Jasper, Dubois County Highway Department, and all Dubois County fire departments. State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated at Level III and will remain activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support to local county emergency agencies. Other organizations supporting activities: Purdue Extension FEDERAL RESPONSE The United States Department of Agriculture has approximately 88 representatives, along with private contractors, in Dubois County assisting with state and local efforts. A National Incident Management Team is in place, with additional staff continuing to arrive in Indiana to help coordinate efforts. PUBLIC ADVISORIES Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness. Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/. Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm. Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.

Thailand confirms first domestic case of Zika virus13 hours ago .View photo The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and cannot spread between humans (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo) Bangkok (AFP) - A man has contracted the Zika virus in Thailand, officials said Tuesday, as a global alert intensifies over the mosquito-borne infection blamed for a surge in serious birth defects in South America. Authorities said the 22-year-old Thai man is likely to have caught the same strain of the virus that has caused panic in countries such as Brazil and Colombia. The virus "was confirmed by blood tests", Air Vice Marshall Santi Srisermpoke, director of Bangkok's Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, told reporters. "His symptoms were a fever, a rash and redness of the eyes," he said, adding he had not travelled abroad. The man has recovered and been discharged from hospital, he added, without giving further details of how long he was in hospital, or where he contracted the sickness. Amnuay Gajeena, director-general of the Disease Control Department of the Public Health Ministry, said it was "likely to be the same strain as the one found in South America". "It's not a new disease in Thailand... we had the first confirmed case in 2012. Since then we have an average of not more than five cases yearly," he said. "There is no need to panic... we have never had an epidemic of the Zika virus in Thailand all of the cases were one-offs." The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue fever, carries the sickness. It breeds in tropical areas, including Thailand, which has seen a surge in cases of dengue in recent months. The World Health Organization linked a spike in birth defects in South America to the virus. The UN health body said that a rise in cases of microcephaly -- in which babies are born with an abnormally small head -- was likely caused by the mosquito-borne virus, and declared the situation a "public health emergency of international concern". First detected in Africa in 1947, Zika was considered a relatively mild disease until the current outbreak was declared in Latin America last year. Brazil was the first country to sound the alarm on the apparent link with birth defects. It has since become the worst affected country, with some 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, of which 270 have been confirmed. As alarm grows over the surge in the number of cases, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have warned women to delay conceiving until the Zika outbreak is brought under control. http://news.yahoo.com/thailand-confirms-first-domestic-case-zika-virus-110258290.html