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Zika Virus – April 5, 2016. Texas has had 27 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease. Of those, 26 were in travelers who were infected abroad and diagnosed after they returned home; one of those travelers was a pregnant woman. One case involved a Dallas County resident who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the Zika infection while traveling abroad. Case counts by county: Bexar – 3Dallas – 4Fort Bend – 2Grayson – 1Harris – 11Tarrant – 3Travis – 2Wise – 1

Life | Tue Apr 5, 2016 2:24am EDTRelated: HEALTH, BRAZILVietnam reports first Zika infections, raises alarmHANOI | BY HO BINH MINH Mosquitoes have infected two women with the Zika virus in Vietnam, health authorities said on Tuesday, in the country's first cases of a disease linked in Brazil to thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect. A 64-year-old woman in the beach city of Nha Trang and a pregnant 33-year-old in Ho Chi Minh City fell sick in late March, and three rounds of tests have confirmed they are Zika-positive, health officials said. The sufferers are in stable condition and no further infections have been found among their relatives and neighbors, the health ministry said in a statement. "After epidemic investigations, we consider the source of infection could be mosquito," Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said of the patient in Ho Chi Minh City. She is eight weeks pregnant, Long said in a Vietnam Television broadcast, but gave no details of the first woman. Health officials have quarantined the living areas of the patient's families and taken samples from others living nearby for further tests, said Nguyen Chi Dung, head of Ho Chi Minh City's department of preventive medicine. The World Health Organization is working closely with Vietnam, a WHO official told a health ministry meeting to announce the infections. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans. The WHO says there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis, though conclusive proof may take months or years. Microcephaly is characterized by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems. Zika has been endemic in Asia, with infection cases confirmed in Bangladesh, South Korea, Thailand and China. Brazil said it had confirmed more than 860 cases of microcephaly, most of which it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. It is investigating more than 4,200 additional suspected cases of microcephaly. (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-vietnam-idUSKCN0X2066

There are potential children with microcephaly Country | 04/05/16 00:00 Dominguez yanelis yanelis.dominguez Yesterday, surprisingly, the deputy director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute, Miguel Pascals, confirmed that have been reported several cases of alleged microcephaly in newborns related to Zika virus in the country. In addition to other complications, but the difficulty of diagnosis, they can not give more information. He expert He said some cases, not only have microcephaly, but produces other neurological manifestations that make them incompatible with life. By consulting the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that they do not handle full information and details will today. Until date have reported 188 confirmed cases of Zika virus, 339 dengue cases Chicungunya eight. The death of a baby for the same condition has not been fully clarified. http://www.diaadia.com.pa/el-país/hay-posibles-niños-con-microcefalia-290667

NATIONAL 12:00 am Tuesday April 5, 2016 Authorities confirmed two cases of microcephalyThe first case of microcephaly by Zika virus was detected on 18 March and the creature died FILE | LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMADespite operating fumigation cases of Zika virus continue to rise in the country. José Arcia [email protected] The Gorgas Memorial Institute confirmed two new cases of microcephaly possibly linked to Zika virus and another suspect who until yesterday had not been confirmed. Miguel Pascals, deputy director of the Gorgas, said children are in good health and are assessed what consequences will this have on the neuro-cognitive development of creatures. The first case of microcephaly by Zika virus was detected on 18 March and the creature died four hours after being born. The Ministry of Health (MoH), meanwhile, reported that increased to 186 people affected and the first imported case is registered in the province of Los Santos. It is a Venezuelan girl Authorities said the case was confirmed last Saturday and tried to locate the patient, but was no longer in place and suspect returned to his native country. Health officials also confirmed that several pregnant women who have tested positive for Zika and are monitored. Health officials reiterated the population contribute to the elimination of breeding places of Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits Zika virus and dengue and Chikungunya. The government declared a national emergency by the virus increased since the first case was detected last November in the region Guna Yala. He also allocated the sum of about $ 10 million to counter the virus. http://laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/autoridades-confirman-casos-microcefalia/23932006

Three cases of microcephaly, related to Zika virus Rosalie Simmons 5 April 2016 - 03: 12h TOPICS:Panorama In the country there are 188 cases of zika.In the country there are 188 cases of zika. ArchiveShares Twitter1Facebook Shares1Email0 The Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (ICGES) reported that in the country there have been four cases of microcephaly, which have some relation to the Zika virus. Juan Miguel Pascale, deputy director of ICGES, said that of all cases have been confirmed three, while one is still being investigated. He said that the latter was recorded in the Hospital San Miguel Arcangel, San Miguelito. "In Panama they have been reported three confirmed cases of microcephaly and one of them died. Although the loss was caused by multiple malformations, is associated with the Zika virus, "he reiterated. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said they are investigating the data, and today will be a statement about it. The possible relationship between the zika and development of neurological diseases forced the World Health Organization to issue a global emergency in February. - See more at: http://impresa.prensa.com/panorama/casos-microcefalia-relacionados-virus-zika_0_4453804646.html#.VwOOaXJwT_U.twitter

Zika virus discovered in VietnamVietnamese officials have detected two Zika infected-patients, the first confirmed cases in the South Asian country. Both of the patients are women and the younger one is pregnant, according to the state media. A 64-year old Vietnamese woman became the first official case of Zika infection in the country, the health ministry said in a statement on Monday. The woman, who hails from the popular beach resort of Nha Trang, started complaining of fever, headache and a rash on her legs in late March. Medical professionals subsequently conducted a series of tests to confirm the presence of the Zika virus, according to the statement. The second patient, a 33-year old from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), also tested positive in a preliminary probe last week. "She had symptoms including a rash, conjunctivitis, and fatigue," the ministry said, adding that the results were confirmed in recent days. According to the media, the younger woman is eight weeks pregnant. Most people infected with Zika display no symptoms. However, scientists believe there is a strong case for a possible link with the birth defect of microcephaly, a condition causing infected mothers to give birth to babies with abnormally small heads. Zika marching on Both patients are reported to be in stable condition, and no other cases have been detected, according to online Vnexpress newspaper. Health officials have quarantined the homes of the womens' families and taken samples from neighbors for further tests, the paper said, citing head of Ho Chi Minh City's department of preventive medicine Nguyen Chi Dung. The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue fever. Following reports of the current outbreak spreading, particularly in Brazil, Vietnamese authorities had urged people to sleep under mosquito nets to reduce the risk. So far, the virus had been reported in over 60 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization. Brazil had been the hardest hit, with 1.5 million infections and 745 confirmed cases of microcephaly in children born to mother who were infected while pregnant. dj/msh (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) http://www.dw.com/en/zika-virus-discovered-in-vietnam/a-19164052

Zika virus spreads to Vietnam with first 2 confirmed casesThanh Nien News HO CHI MINH CITY - Tuesday, April 05, 2016 10:13Email Print Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen at the Laboratory of Entomology and Ecology of the Dengue Branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in San Juan, March 6, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Alvin BaezRELATED NEWSVietnam raises Zika alert after Australian tourist returns home sickVietnam collects blood samples to check for Zika after new regional infectionsVietnam watches out for alarming Zika virus spreadVietnam’s health ministry on Tuesday confirmed the country’s first two infections of the Zika virus in Ho Chi Minh City and the central resort town Nha Trang.The Nha Trang patient is a 64-year-old woman who started having a fever on March 26. She also suffered from headache and conjunctivitis and developed rashes.She went to hospital after taking medicine at home for two days and did not get better.Test results from the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang on March 31 and April 1 both confirmed that she was infected with the Zika virus.The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemology in Hanoi took another test and confirmed the result Monday.The institute on the same day said another patient from Ho Chi Minh City was tested positive. The 33-year-old woman living in District 2 developed symptoms including rashes, fatigue and conjunctivitis on March 29. Two consecutive tests from the district’s general hospital found she was infected with the virus.Both patients are stable. Initial tests on their family members and neighbors have all come back negative.High alertVietnam has stepped up preventive measures for the virus after an Australian tourist tested positive after leaving the country on March 6.The person arrived in Vietnam on February 26 and traveled through Ho Chi Minh City and the central resort towns Da Lat, Nha Trang and Mui Ne. It has not confirmed whether the tourist was infected in or outside Vietnam.Aedes aegypti mosquito has been identified as the main vector of the virus. It is also known for carrying the dengue, yellow fever and Chikungunya viruses.Zika was first detected in Africa in 1947 when it was considered a relatively mild disease until the current outbreak started in Brazil in May 2015.The virus has since spread to more than 60 countries and territories, including many in the region such as Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and South Korea.Brazil, Venezuela and Columbia each has linked three deaths to the Zika virus.Brazil has also confirmed 944 cases of microcephaly and at least 198 babies with the birth defect who have died since October last year, Reuters reported.http://www.thanhniennews.com/health/zika-virus-spreads-to-vietnam-with-first-2-confirmed-cases-60915.html

Vietnam detects first two cases of Zika virusThe online Vnexpress newspaper quoted Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long as saying two women, aged 64 and 33, tested positive for the virus. 11 2Comments (0) By: AP | Hanoi | Updated: April 5, 2016 2:07 pmA researcher holds a container with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo’s University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP File Photo)Vietnam has confirmed the country’s first two cases of Zika virus. The online Vnexpress newspaper quoted Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long as saying two women, aged 64 and 33, tested positive for the virus. The two suffer from fevers, rashes and red eyes, it said, adding the younger woman is eight weeks pregnant. SHARE THIS ARTICLERELATED ARTICLEFacts about Zika Virus: Why it is causing global alarmDhaka finds a case, India to start random testing for Zika virusThe Zika virus disease and India: Health guidelines and facts you should knowFirst case of sexually transmitted Zika virus confirmed in TexasThese are the measures announced by Asian countries against Zika virusZika virus: Here's everything you need to knowFacts about Zika Virus: Why it is causing global alarmDhaka finds a case, India to start random testing for Zika virusThe Zika virus disease and India: Health guidelines and facts you should knowFirst case of sexually transmitted Zika virus confirmed in TexasThese are the measures announced by Asian countries against Zika virusZika virus: Here's everything you need to knowFacts about Zika Virus: Why it is causing global alarmDhaka finds a case, India to start random testing for Zika virusThe Zika virus disease and India: Health guidelines and facts you should knowFirst case of sexually transmitted Zika virus confirmed in TexasThese are the measures announced by Asian countries against Zika virusZika virus: Here's everything you need to know123456PrevNextMost people who get the virus have no symptoms. Others may suffer from a mild and brief illness, but infections in pregnant women have been strongly linked to fetal deaths and to potentially devastating birth defects. That has been common in Brazil. Vietnamese health officials have called for stronger surveillance to fight the virus and urged people to sleep with mosquito nets. http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/vietnam-detects-first-2-cases-of-zika-virus/

Vietnam reports first cases of Zika virus infection Source: Xinhua 2016-04-05 11:00:31 HANOI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health of Vietnam on Tuesday reported the country's first two cases of infecting Zika virus in southern Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City, said local media. The first patient is a 64 year-old woman living in Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang city, reported local VNExpress online newspaper on Tuesday. She started fever on March 26 with symptoms of mild fever, headache, rash in two legs and pinkeye. After two days of self-treatment at home, she was not better and went to Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tropical Diseases. On March 31, test results in Nha Trang Pasteur Institute showed that the patient is positive with Zika virus. The test sample was later transferred to be tested again in the Hanoi-based National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). The NIHE's test result on Monday showed that the female patient is positive with the disease. Meanwhile, the second case is a 33 year-old woman in the country's southern Ho Chi Minh City's District Two. The patient started getting ill on March 29 with similar symptoms of typhus, conjunctivitis and fatigue. The patient went to General Hospital of District Two on the same day. Two consecutive test results showed that she was infected with the Zika virus. Later, the NIHE's test result on Monday also showed that the female patient is positive with the disease, reported VNExpress. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/05/c_135251141.htm

Gorgas confirmed cases of microcephaly related to zikaTweetShare on FacebookShare by emailBY YANNISSE VERGARA 04/04/2016 - 1:18 PMThe deputy director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute, Miguel Pascals, confirmed Monday April 4, that have been reported several cases of microcephaly in newborns related to Zika virus in Panamanian soil. Pascals explained, it is four cases of microcephaly in infants, of which three have already been confirmed and the other is under evaluation. The first was reported in a newborn who suffered from congenital malformation, encephalocele and microcephaly, which presumably would be related to the zika, which was detected by examination practice in the umbilical cord, resulting in the confirmation of the virus in their anatomy. However product health complications, died on March 17. "We are seeing there are several cases zika infection, which are associated with loss of baby or microcephaly," said the deputy director of the Gorgas. Pascal said that some of the cases, not only have microcephaly, but produces other neurological manifestations that make them incompatible with life. "We have the case of a little boy was born, has microcephaly, but is well and we are evaluating what impact will this have on their neuro-cognitive development in the future," he concluded Pascals. First case of imported zika The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed on Saturday April 2, the first case of imported zika in the province of Los Santos, in a girl of Venezuelan nationality of between 7 and 8 years. The test results were obtained on Saturday and then tried to locate the person, but the authorities of the Ministry of Health found no one at the residence of the minor Garmo located in the neighborhood. It is believed that the child has returned to Venezuela from 29 to 30 March, so it was not possible to deliver the results to the patient. To date, there have been 188 reported cases of Zika virus confirmed 339 dengue cases and 8 Chicungunya. "The fight now is because you want to avoid these numbers to increase; constant vigilance is maintained but all people need support "said Health Minister Francisco Javier Terrientes. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Gorgas-confirma-casos-microcefalia-relacionados-zika-Panama_0_4453054696.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Pennsylvania Blood Tests Submitted for Zika Testing as of April 4, 2016 Information updated Mondays at 2 p.m.CDC Confirmed Cases: 12Pending Test Results: 158

Allegheny County Residents Approved for Zika Testing: 56 CDC Confirmed Cases: 1(as of April 4)

April 4, 2016 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DAILY ZIKA UPDATE: NO NEW CASES TODAY Contact:Communications [email protected](850) 245-4111 Tallahassee, Fla.—In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware about the status of the Zika virus, the Florida Department of Health will issue a Zika virus update each week day at 2 p.m. Updates will include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared. There are no new cases today. Of the cases confirmed in Florida, four cases are still exhibiting symptoms. According to the CDC, symptoms associated with the Zika virus last between seven to 10 days. Based on CDC guidance, several pregnant women who have traveled to countries with local-transmission of Zika have received antibody testing, and of those, five have tested positive for the Zika virus. The CDC recommends that a pregnant woman with a history of Zika virus and her provider should consider additional ultrasounds. It is recommended that women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant postpone travel to Zika affected areas. County Number of Cases (all travel related) Alachua 4 Brevard 2 Broward 12 Clay 1 Collier 1 Hillsborough 3 Lee 3 Miami-Dade 32 Orange 5 Osceola 4 Palm Beach 1 Polk 3 Santa Rosa 1 Seminole 1 St. Johns 1 Cases involving pregnant women* 5 Total 79 *Counties of pregnant women will not be shared. On Feb. 12, Governor Scott directed the State Surgeon General to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The hotline, managed by the Department of Health, has assisted 1,258 callers since it launched. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735. All cases are travel-associated. There have been no locally-acquired cases of Zika in Florida. For more information on the Zika virus, click here. The department urges Floridians to drain standing water weekly, no matter how seemingly small. A couple drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding location for mosquitoes. Residents and visitors also need to use repellents when enjoying the Florida outdoors. More Information on DOH action on Zika: On Feb. 3, Governor Scott directed the State Surgeon General to issue a Declaration of Public Health Emergency for the counties of residents with travel-associated cases of Zika.The Declaration currently includes the 15 affected counties – Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Santa Rosa, Seminole and St. Johns – and will be updated as needed. DOH encourages Florida residents and visitors to protect themselves from all mosquito-borne illnesses by draining standing water; covering their skin with repellent and clothing; and covering windows with screens.DOH has a robust mosquito-borne illness surveillance system and is working with the CDC, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and local county mosquito control boards to ensure that the proper precautions are being taken to protect Florida residents and visitors.Florida currently has the capacity to test 3,948 people for active Zika virus and 1,673 for Zika antibodies.Federal Guidance on Zika: According to the CDC, Zika illness is generally mild with a rash, fever and joint pain. CDC researchers are examining a possible link between the virus and harm to unborn babies exposed during pregnancy.The FDA released guidance regarding donor screening, deferral and product management to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmission of Zika virus. Additional information is available on the FDA website here.The CDC has put out guidance related to the sexual transmission of the Zika virus. This includes the CDC recommendation that if you have traveled to a country with local transmission of Zika you should abstain from unprotected sex.For more information on Zika virus, click here. About the Florida Department of Health The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov. http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/04/040416-zika-update.html

Zika Virus – April 4, 2016. Texas has had 27 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease. Of those, 26 were in travelers who were infected abroad and diagnosed after they returned home; one of those travelers was a pregnant woman. One case involved a Dallas County resident who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the Zika infection while traveling abroad. Case counts by county: Bexar – 3Dallas – 4Fort Bend – 2Grayson – 1Harris – 11Tarrant – 3Travis – 2Wise – 1

Zika Virus – April 1, 2016. Texas has had 27 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease. Of those, 26 were in travelers who were infected abroad and diagnosed after they returned home; one of those travelers was a pregnant woman. One case involved a Dallas County resident who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the Zika infection while traveling abroad. Case counts by county: Bexar – 3Dallas – 4Fort Bend – 2Grayson – 1Harris – 11Tarrant – 3Travis – 2Wise – 1

Alabama Residents Tested for Zika Virus as of April 4, 2016 Number Tested PositiveNumber of SubmissionsNumber with Results Pending3 45 16

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APRIL 2, 2016, 11:00 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016, 11:02 PMBergen County woman among 3 more confirmed travel-related Zika cases in N.J.BY MARY JO LAYTONSTAFF WRITER | THE RECORD State health officials confirmed three more travel-related cases of Zika in New Jersey for a total of five, officials said Saturday. The three cases, all confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month, include a Bergen County woman, a Health Department spokeswoman said. State officials on Friday attended a “Zika Summit” in Atlanta to plan strategies for protecting pregnant women from the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause severe birth defects, including abnormally small heads and brain damage. Updated maps released last week show that officials now believe New Jersey is within the range of the mosquito species — Aedes aegypti and a “cousin” — that can transmit the virus. A spokeswoman for the Health Department said the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been detected “sporadically” in New Jersey, but currently are not established here. Among the new cases was a Burlington County woman who traveled to Costa Rica and contracted the virus there, a Bergen County woman who traveled to Colombia and returned in early March and an Essex County woman who traveled to the Dominican Republic in mid-February. In all cases, symptoms were resolved, according to the state Department of Health. In the first case confirmed in February in New Jersey, a Bergen County woman was exposed to the virus there and returned home. The second, also confirmed in February, involved a Hudson County woman who had traveled to Honduras, state officials said. Federal health officials convened the nationwide conference Friday to press the need to slow the spread of Zika into the United States over the next few months. With Puerto Rico on the front lines of the outbreak, health officials called on Congress to approve funds to prevent its spread on the mainland. All but six of the 312 cases in the United States have occurred among people who traveled to Zika-affected countries primarily in Latin America, the Caribbean and some Pacific Islands, according to the CDC. Email: [email protected] http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-woman-among-3-more-confirmed-travel-related-zika-cases-in-n-j-1.1537283

1 April 2016CHP notified of two additional imported cases of Zika Virus Infection in Mainland The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 1) received notification of two additional imported cases of Zika Virus Infection in the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The CHP again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to the affected areas. The two patients are sisters aged 12 and 13 who returned to Enping, Jiangmen, Guangdong, from Venezuela. The younger sister developed skin rash on March 24 which later subsided. She was under isolation at home. Her elder sister presented with rash on her abdomen on March 29 and was hospitalised for isolation. Both patients transited in Hong Kong with their family on March 23 and returned to Guangdong via Shenzhen Bay Control Point in afebrile condition. To date, 15 imported cases of Zika Virus Infection have been notified in the Mainland. The DH's Port Health Office has stepped up inspection at boundary control points (BCPs) to maintain strict environmental hygiene with effective mosquito control. Port Health Inspectors have reinforced training for contractors of BCPs, including the airport, harbour ports and ground crossings, on port hygiene and pest control for effective vector prevention. Health promotion in BCPs has been enhanced through pamphlets and posters to alert travellers to necessary measures against Zika. "Routine health surveillance on the body temperature of inbound travellers at all boundary control points is ongoing. Suspected cases will be referred to healthcare facilities for follow-up. However, at present, around 70 to 80 per cent of infected people are asymptomatic and most can recover fully. Therefore, we again urge those arriving from Zika-affected areas to apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival to reduce the risk of transmission," the spokesman for the DH said. The DH has been working closely with the travel industry and stakeholders, especially agents operating tours in Zika-affected areas and personnel receiving travellers in those areas (particularly pregnant women), to regularly update them on the latest disease information and health advice. As long as there is international travel, there is always a risk of the introduction of the Zika virus to Hong Kong. As asymptomatic infection is very common and the potential vector, Aedes albopictus, is present locally, there is also the risk of local spread if Zika is introduced to Hong Kong. The public should pay special attention to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission (affected areas) and observe the ongoing health advice and special notes during travel. The DH has been maintaining close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest developments of Zika. Locally, no human Zika cases have been reported to the CHP to date. To prevent Zika Virus Infection, in addition to general anti-mosquito measures, the DH draws the public's attention to the special notes below: A. Travelling abroad * If going to areas with ongoing Zika transmission, travellers, especially those with immune disorders or severe chronic illnesses, should arrange consultation with a doctor at least six weeks before the trip, and take extra preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites;* Those arriving from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival. If feeling unwell, e.g. having fever, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to a doctor; B. Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy * Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to affected areas. Those who must travel should seek medical advice from their doctor before the trip, adopt contraception if appropriate, strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip, and consult and reveal their travel history to their doctor if symptoms develop after the trip. Women preparing for pregnancy are advised to continue to adopt contraception for 28 days after returning from these areas; C. Special notes for prevention of sexual transmission regarding potential adverse pregnancy outcomes * Pregnant women should not have sex with male partners who have travelled to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission, or else condoms should be used throughout the pregnancy;* Any male traveller returning from affected areas should:(i) abstain from sex with his pregnant partner, or else use condoms throughout the pregnancy; and(ii) use a condom for at least six months if his female partner may get pregnant. The public may visit the pages below for more disease information and health advice: * The CHP's Zika page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html);* The Zika page of the DH's Travel Health Service (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup_zika.html);* The Outbound Travel Alert page of the Security Bureau (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota); and* Anti-mosquito precautions for women (www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html). Ends/Friday, April 1, 2016 http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/116/44179.html

Two new imported Zika cases in S. China(Xinhua) South China's Guangdong Province reported two new Zika cases Friday, bringing the total number of imported infections in the province to 10. Two sisters aged 12 and 13 tested positive for the Zika virus Tuesday in Enping City, the provincial health and family planning commission said. The two returned from Venezuela on March 23 and developed a skin rash. The younger sister has since tested negative for the virus and is under observation at home, while the elder sister is in hospital with a normal body temperature. All eight other imported Zika cases in Guangdong have been discharged from hospital after recovery. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency in early February amid a Zika outbreak in Central and South America. China has also been on alert as the warming weather may facilitate the spread of the mosquito-borne virus. Symptoms of Zika infections include fever, joint pain, rash, conjunctivitis, headache and muscle pain. It is also a suspected cause of microcephaly in new-born babies. Source: Xinhua http://www.chinatraveltourismnews.com/2016/04/two-new-imported-zika-cases-in-s-china.html

Stop Zika before it gains foothold in U.S., say health officialsNEWSBy Rosalind Bentley - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 0  Posted: 5:40 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2016 HighlightsCDC wants Congress to approve $1.9 billion in spending for Zika There are no national protocols to combat the mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus Georgia is adding nine state workers to monitor mosquito populations for the virus Realizing the fight against the devastating Zika virus will hinge on effective mosquito control, federal, state and municipal health officials met at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday to share strategies and plead for federal dollars to stop the spread of the disease. About 180 health department commissioners, doctors, environmental protection officers and other health care workers met to get ahead of a virus that threatens to hit the continental United States as mosquito season starts. While there was unanimity among conferees that stopping the virus hinges on mosquito control, there is no uniform national plan to contain the virus if and when it arrives on the mainland. For that to happen, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden urged Congress to approve a $1.9 billion request from the White House, $828 million of which would go to the CDC’s Zika effort. The federal dollars would fund things like the development of vaccines, research, and awareness campaigns. “Without additional resources we won’t be able to get the resources we need to get to the state and local levels to provide Americans with the protection they deserve,” Frieden said. Congress has said the CDC should use any remaining Ebola funds to fight Zika, but Frieden and others said that would not be sufficient. “Shifting money from crisis to crisis will have us chasing our tails,” said Dr. Ed McCabe, medical director of the March of Dimes. “We have a few short months to stop Zika from gaining a foot hold in the U.S. If we don’t the consequences will be dire.” +DAVID GOLDMANCenters for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden. The agency is pleading Congress to approve $1.9 billion in funds... Read MoreThe virus is already spreading across the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico with 325 cases of the virus recorded so far, including 40 pregnant women, according to the CDC. So far there have been 312-travel related cases of Zika in the U.S. including at least 21 pregnant women. Pregnant women are the target of the CDC’s response to the virus because of Zika’s links to a range of debilitating birth defects, including microcephaly. Microcephaly causes babies to be born with undersized heads, underdeveloped brains and a host of physical and cognitive problems. Zika has also been linked to miscarriages and other dire health problems in babies. The virus is spread through two types of mosquitoes found in Georgia, the aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus. It is also sexually transmitted. Georgia has had 11 travel-related cases of Zika so far. None have involved pregnant women. But State Public Health Commissioner Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald said Friday she is worried that a travel-related case would lead to eventual cases of mosquito-borne transmission in the state. While the state does not have a consistent mosquito control program, Fitzgerald, who is coordinating the state’s Zika response, said her department is filling nine new positions specifically for state-wide mosquito surveillance to help identify and clean up potential mosquito breeding grounds. +DAVID GOLDMANCenters for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden speaks during a press conference at a one-day Zika summit Frieden ... Read More“This response is going to require overlapping efforts,” Fitzgerald said. But those measures must begin immediately and they must be nationwide, experts said. “If we wait until the public is panicking, until we see babies being born with birth defects, we have waited too long,” said Amy Pope, White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor said. http://www.myajc.com/news/news/stop-zika-before-it-gains-foothold-in-us-say-healt/nqxgr/

State Health Officials Urged to Get Ready Now for Zika in USBy MIKE STOBBE, AP MEDICAL WRITER ATLANTA — Apr 1, 2016, 6:09 PM ET SHARE Email The government urged health officials around the country Friday to get ready now in case there are outbreaks of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the U.S. this summer. A Zika epidemic has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean, and officials think it's likely some small clusters of Zika will occur in the U.S. when mosquito numbers boom. At a "Zika Summit" on Friday, experts prodded some 300 state and local officials gathered at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters to make Zika response plans now. When West Nile virus — transmitted by a different mosquito — moved through the U.S. about 15 years ago, health officials were caught flat-footed, noted Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. "This is an opportunity to get ahead of the curve," he told the summit's attendees. The Zika virus causes only a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people. But in the last year, infections in pregnant women have been strongly linked to fetal deaths and to potentially devastating birth defects, mostly in Brazil. The virus is spread mainly by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also live in parts of the U.S. It was thought to be mainly in the South but the CDC revised its map this week, showing the mosquito has been found in parts of the Midwest and Northeast. Officials don't expect Zika to be a big problem, though, in the U.S. for a number of reasons, including the widespread use of air conditioning and screens. The Zika mosquito likes to bite indoors. They think the clusters may be small and surface only in a few states — most likely Florida and Texas. But they don't know for sure. So far, there have been no Zika infections in the U.S. caught from mosquitoes. More than 300 illnesses have been reported, all linked to travel to Zika outbreak regions. About 350 additional cases have been reported in U.S. territories, most of them in Puerto Rico, where mosquitoes are already spreading the virus. Together, dozens or even hundreds of births in the 50 states and territories could be affected in devastating ways by Zika, said Dr. Edward McCabe of the March of Dimes, who spoke at the summit. "We have a few short weeks to stop the Zika virus from gaining a foothold," McCabe said. During the summit, state and local officials were encouraged to map where the Zika mosquito lives and breeds in the state and which insecticides would work best in their area. The Zika response will likely mean workers will go door to door, sometimes asking to go on properties and even spray. That's different from the truck- and aerial-spraying seen in conventional mosquito eradication efforts. It will be a kind of campaign not seen in this country since efforts to wipe out yellow fever in the 1950s and 1960s, and it will take different kinds of equipment, approaches and more staff, CDC officials said. Local health officials at the summit said the work ahead is daunting, especially since it's not clear where they're going to get the money. And health departments are already struggling financially, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, a Seattle-based county public health official who was at the meeting representing the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "Our priority is to make sure we have enough resources to meet the threat," Duchin said. Paul Ettestad, New Mexico's public health veterinarian, said some of the state's counties only have a handful of people doing mosquito control work — the same people who also handle snow removal in the winter "They don't have much," Ettestad said The Obama administration in February requested nearly $2 billion in emergency funding for Zika response work. Congressional leaders have not formally voted on the request. One of the things money is needed for, officials said, is better and faster blood tests for Zika. Now, it takes between a few days to a week to get results. If Zika starts spreading in the U.S, women of childbearing age are going to be "intensely concerned," predicted Dr. Bill Foege, a former CDC director and expert on global health. "They're going to want to know if they are infected and they're not going to want to wait a week." http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/state-health-officials-urged-ready-now-zika-us-38092149

SCIENTIFIC METHOD / SCIENCE & EXPLORATIONCDC braces for Zika’s US invasion as scientists watch virus melt fetal brainExperts prepare for pockets of transmission on US mainland as mosquito season begins.by Beth Mole - Apr 1, 2016 4:28pm EDT ShareTweetEmail 1A female Aedes aegypti mosquito takes flight after a blood meal.CDCThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered more than 300 local, state, and federal authorities and experts at its Atlanta headquarters Friday to prepare for clusters of mosquito-transmitted Zika infections on the US mainland. “The mosquitoes that carry Zika virus are already active in US territories, hundreds of travelers with Zika have already returned to the continental US, and we could well see clusters of Zika virus in the continental US in the coming months,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement prior to today’s meeting. “Urgent action is needed, especially to minimize the risk of exposure during pregnancy.” Zika, a virus that has been tearing across Central and South America since last year, is mostly transmitted by mosquito, but it can also be spread through sexual contact. Generally the virus only causes mild illness, with symptoms including fever, rash, pink eye, and aches. But in the recent outbreaks, Zika has been linked to rare cases of paralyzing auto-immune disease, called Guillain-Barré syndrome. Of most concern, it's also linked to devastating birth defects, including microcephaly, in which babies are born with small, malformed heads and brains. EnlargeCDCWhile researchers are still studying the link between Zika and microcephaly, health experts fear that microcephaly is just one of the potential problems for the unborn. “Perhaps one of the most important unknowns is what is the range of fetal abnormalities in addition to microcephaly,” Frieden said in a press conference during the summit. Microcephaly may just be the extreme, he and others noted. Babies exposed to the virus in utero may also suffer from less obvious developmental and cognitive problems, he speculated. The fear is bolstered by recent data that has only strengthened the tie between the virus and the birth defect, with some studies finding the virus killing off developing brain cells. In a study released this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report tracking the development of a fetus whose mother was infected with the virus during a trip to Central America while she was three months pregnant. With blood tests and magnetic resonance images (MRI), researchers watched as the baby’s brain essentially turned to liquid in the course of nine weeks. The woman aborted the fetus at week 21. Friday’s one-day summit covered such breaking scientific data on the virus and provided training to authorities on how to prevent, treat, and talk with the public (particularly pregnant women) about Zika and its health effects. Experts also focused on coordinating efforts to stamp down mosquito populations. Enlarge / Estimated range of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the United States, 2016.CDCThere’s a hodge-podge of practices in various communities for tackling mosquito control, and many of them are very effective, according to Amy Pope, a White House deputy homeland security advisor and deputy assistant to the president who spoke at the press conference. “The goal of today’s summit is to bring all of those practices together in one place, give folks sort of the menu of options, so that they can develop a comprehensive plan well in advance of when we see mosquitoes biting around the continental United States,” she said. Though health experts don’t foresee extensive mosquito-borne outbreaks of Zika in the US, there’s reason to expect small clusters of transmission. Zika is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularlyAedes aegypti and to a lesser extent Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes, which are present in some areas of the US, can also transmit yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. Small outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue pop up in certain areas each year, particularly in Texas and Florida. Health experts suspect that Zika may behave similarly. Enlarge / A representation of the surface of the Zika virus with protruding envelope glycoproteins (red) shown.Courtesy of Kuhn and Rossmann research groups, Purdue University.Frieden stressed the difficulty of knocking backAedes populations, which are day-biters that can breed in very small amounts of standing water. Coordinated, sustained, and well-funded efforts are needed to control these populations, he said. So far, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika. However, in another scientific report in the journal Science this week, researchers report getting the first detailed, 3D image of the virus using cryo-electron microscopy. While the viral close-up looks unsurprisingly similar to that of dengue—a related virus—there are minor differences. Those findings could provide clues to how researchers might defeat the virus with a vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1601824 (About DOIs). Science, 2015. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf5316 http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/cdc-braces-for-zikas-us-invasion-as-scientists-watch-virus-melt-fetal-brain/

SCIENTIFIC METHOD / SCIENCE & EXPLORATIONCDC braces for Zika’s US invasion as scientists watch virus melt fetal brainExperts prepare for pockets of transmission on US mainland as mosquito season begins.by Beth Mole - Apr 1, 2016 4:28pm EDT ShareTweetEmail 1A female Aedes aegypti mosquito takes flight after a blood meal.CDCThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered more than 300 local, state, and federal authorities and experts at its Atlanta headquarters Friday to prepare for clusters of mosquito-transmitted Zika infections on the US mainland. “The mosquitoes that carry Zika virus are already active in US territories, hundreds of travelers with Zika have already returned to the continental US, and we could well see clusters of Zika virus in the continental US in the coming months,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement prior to today’s meeting. “Urgent action is needed, especially to minimize the risk of exposure during pregnancy.” Zika, a virus that has been tearing across Central and South America since last year, is mostly transmitted by mosquito, but it can also be spread through sexual contact. Generally the virus only causes mild illness, with symptoms including fever, rash, pink eye, and aches. But in the recent outbreaks, Zika has been linked to rare cases of paralyzing auto-immune disease, called Guillain-Barré syndrome. Of most concern, it's also linked to devastating birth defects, including microcephaly, in which babies are born with small, malformed heads and brains. EnlargeCDCWhile researchers are still studying the link between Zika and microcephaly, health experts fear that microcephaly is just one of the potential problems for the unborn. “Perhaps one of the most important unknowns is what is the range of fetal abnormalities in addition to microcephaly,” Frieden said in a press conference during the summit. Microcephaly may just be the extreme, he and others noted. Babies exposed to the virus in utero may also suffer from less obvious developmental and cognitive problems, he speculated. The fear is bolstered by recent data that has only strengthened the tie between the virus and the birth defect, with some studies finding the virus killing off developing brain cells. In a study released this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report tracking the development of a fetus whose mother was infected with the virus during a trip to Central America while she was three months pregnant. With blood tests and magnetic resonance images (MRI), researchers watched as the baby’s brain essentially turned to liquid in the course of nine weeks. The woman aborted the fetus at week 21. Friday’s one-day summit covered such breaking scientific data on the virus and provided training to authorities on how to prevent, treat, and talk with the public (particularly pregnant women) about Zika and its health effects. Experts also focused on coordinating efforts to stamp down mosquito populations. Enlarge / Estimated range of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the United States, 2016.CDCThere’s a hodge-podge of practices in various communities for tackling mosquito control, and many of them are very effective, according to Amy Pope, a White House deputy homeland security advisor and deputy assistant to the president who spoke at the press conference. “The goal of today’s summit is to bring all of those practices together in one place, give folks sort of the menu of options, so that they can develop a comprehensive plan well in advance of when we see mosquitoes biting around the continental United States,” she said. Though health experts don’t foresee extensive mosquito-borne outbreaks of Zika in the US, there’s reason to expect small clusters of transmission. Zika is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularlyAedes aegypti and to a lesser extent Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes, which are present in some areas of the US, can also transmit yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. Small outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue pop up in certain areas each year, particularly in Texas and Florida. Health experts suspect that Zika may behave similarly. Enlarge / A representation of the surface of the Zika virus with protruding envelope glycoproteins (red) shown.Courtesy of Kuhn and Rossmann research groups, Purdue University.Frieden stressed the difficulty of knocking backAedes populations, which are day-biters that can breed in very small amounts of standing water. Coordinated, sustained, and well-funded efforts are needed to control these populations, he said. So far, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika. However, in another scientific report in the journal Science this week, researchers report getting the first detailed, 3D image of the virus using cryo-electron microscopy. While the viral close-up looks unsurprisingly similar to that of dengue—a related virus—there are minor differences. Those findings could provide clues to how researchers might defeat the virus with a vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1601824 (About DOIs). Science, 2015. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf5316 http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/cdc-braces-for-zikas-us-invasion-as-scientists-watch-virus-melt-fetal-brain/