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Health confirms 54 cases of zika this weekPOSTED: Today 11:32 h.INTER NEWS SERVICE Share Secretary of Health, Ana Ríus Armendariz, reported today that the agency has confirmed 54 new cases of zika this week, including two pregnant women. Ríus Armendariz also said that 117 cases are within six weeks of surveillance of the virus. The 54 cases after analyzing 1,800 samples detected. As for pregnant women, and added five since it began monitoring the virus. In turn, they are also five the number of hospitalizations and deaths are not registered. The zika prevails in the east area of the island, specifically in 28 municipalities, plus Ponce, reporting two cases or more. The official said the government has sprinkled in 42 municipalities and in this area more than twice. Regarding the increase in cases, the secretary explained that because "there is more awareness, which means they are reaching more samples to the laboratory. The number of cases will continue to increase. "

Secretary of Health, Ana Ríus Armendariz, reported today that the agency has confirmed 54 new cases of zika this week, including two pregnant women. Ríus Armendariz also said that 117 cases are within six weeks of surveillance of the virus. http://www.metro.pr/noticias/salud-confirma-54-casos-de-zika-esta-semana/pGXpbz!LwRPpuGlZ7Io/

A health official in the Argentine province of Cordoba reported on Friday that a woman had contracted the Zika virus without having left the country, bringing to nine the total number of cases reported nationwide. A major outbreak of the virus began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas. "We are thinking that the virus could have been transmitted sexually," Cordoba health chief Francisco Fortuna told Radio Continental, adding that the patient had contact with a man who recently traveled to Colombia. Prior to the infection in Cordoba, Argentina's health ministry had reported eight cases of Zika throughout the country as of last week. Scientists are investigating a potential link between Zika infections of pregnant women and more than 4,300 suspected cases in Brazil of microcephaly, a condition marked by an abnormally small head size that can result in developmental problems. Both Argentina and Colombia border Brazil. Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes microcephaly in babies. Brazil has confirmed more than 580 cases of microcephaly and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Airlines say the rapidly spreading Zika virus may be discouraging travel in the Americas, the International Air Transport Association said. (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein and Nicolas Misculin)

Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:09am ESTRelated: HEALTHArgentine woman contracts Zika without leaving the countryBUENOS AIRES A health official in the Argentine province of Cordoba reported on Friday that a woman had contracted the Zika virus without having left the country, bringing to nine the total number of cases reported nationwide. A major outbreak of the virus began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas. "We are thinking that the virus could have been transmitted sexually," Cordoba health chief Francisco Fortuna told Radio Continental, adding that the patient had contact with a man who recently traveled to Colombia. Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:09am ESTRelated: HEALTHArgentine woman contracts Zika without leaving the countryBUENOS AIRES A health official in the Argentine province of Cordoba reported on Friday that a woman had contracted the Zika virus without having left the country, bringing to nine the total number of cases reported nationwide. A major outbreak of the virus began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas. "We are thinking that the virus could have been transmitted sexually," Cordoba health chief Francisco Fortuna told Radio Continental, adding that the patient had contact with a man who recently traveled to Colombia. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-argentina-idUSKCN0VZ21W?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

THURSDAY, 02.25.2016, 10:39 Columbia discloses microcephaly first case which can be connected to Zika virusMany tried to create a rumor without any scientific basis to discredit the link between poor neurological training and disease.http://cbn.globoradio.globo.com/comentaristas/luis-fernando-correia/2016/02/25/COLOMBIA-DIVULGA-PRIMEIRO-CASO-DE-MICROCEFALIA-QUE-PODE-ESTAR-LIGADO-AO-VIRUS-ZIKA.htm

Case in Popayan be evidence relationship between zika and microcephaly +1 Tweet 0 Share 6RELATED POSTSOPS reaches Barranquilla to meet information management zikaWHO recommends abstinence or safe sex to those returning from areas with zikaIncreasing evidence pointing to link zika with microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, WHO saysBY: WRITING ELHERALDO.COThe woman decided to abort the fetus was confirmed infected with the virus. Infection occurred at 5 months.On Tuesday, the case of a woman in Popayan who decided to have an abortion after health authorities determined that his five months of pregnancy the fetus was infected with met Zika virus and found changes in the brain. The case was reported by the doctor Juan Jose Alvarado, who confirmed that the woman in question is 18 years old. " They did an ultrasound at 4 months, then he presented flu symptoms and did another ultrasound and changes in the brain were found. In the control he was diagnosed with impaired growth of the baby's head and asked why that had zika interruption , "Alvarado said in an interview with Radio Blu. The doctor said that it was decided in a scientific committee that was valid abortion. "This case confirms the relationship between infection and neurological involvement. It is important to say that patient infection occurred at 5 months, "he said. "This also confirms that the fetus can be infected not only the first three months, but after that," Alvarado said of the statements of the health authorities estimated that the risk among zika and microcephaly was up to 3 months. "When the infection is more likely early affectations is higher, but that does not mean that months later can not be presented. What if we saw is that the damage is very fast, "he said Alvarado and added that the study did direct the National Institutes of Health. "Changes in the fetus are not going to see immediately when fetuses acquire the infection wait a few months. The message for embrazadas women living in hot climates is that follow-ups are made, "he concluded. http://www.elheraldo.co/nacional/caso-en-popayan-evidenciaria-relacion-entre-zika-y-microcefalia-245161

Colombia confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika virus Agency Brazil - Health authorities in Colombia announced today (24) the first case of a fetus with malformção, whose mother was infected by Zika virus. According to the doctor Juan Jose Alvarado, a woman of 18 years is the city of Popayan, in the southwestern and interrupted pregnancy, after clinical trials proved the fetal malformation.The National Institute of Health of Colombia "confirmed the suspicion, after studies in amniotic mother liquid showed that the baby was infected by the virus." According to the statements of Alvarado, the fetus had brain changes, microcephaly, destruction tissues and changes in the cranial level.The Cauca Department of Health reported that the case occurred in the city of El Bordo and the termination of pregnancy was a voluntary decision of the young.This is the first confirmed case in the country and for the authorities, "it shows that the virus alone can affect the baby in the first trimester of pregnancy and possibly during the second quarter."The Zika virus has already infected more than 37,000 people in Colombia and of this total more than 6,000 pregnant women in different regions of the country.http://www.conexaocidade.com/2016/02/colombia-confirma-primeiro-caso-de.html

Colombia: Case suspected microcephaly related zika Photo courtesy of www.hispantv.com APThursday, February 25, 2016 - 14:00 4The authorities health Colombia said on Thursday the case of an aborted fetus suffering microcephaly and whose mother was infected with the virus zika. However, the Ministry of Health He clarified that this does not allow check that the zika and microcephaly are linked because the tests were not rigorous enough and the remains of the fetus were discarded. is is a woman of 18 years who `` underwent an abortion to meet the criteria fetus with congenital abnormality incompatible with life '', according to the National Institutes of Health. Doctors at the hospital in Popayan, southwest of the country, found that the mother was infected with the virus zika and through sonograms and amniotic fluid analysis found that the fetus had microcephaly, so she underwent the abortion . But the ministry said that the evidence is insufficient to establish the relationship between zika and microcephaly because `` it is necessary to identify the virus in tissues to reach a conclusive diagnosis of congenital anomaly ''. Andrea Ruiz, the press office of the ministry, told The Associated Press that `` there are more than 100 possible causes that can cause microcephaly in a fetus '' so it is not enough amniotic fluid test. The remains of the fetus, essential to establish whether or not it was a case of microcephaly associated with zika, were dismissed by the hospital. `` We are reviewing the issue to verify exactly what actions are to be taken 'are', he said by telephone AP Luz Amparo Guzman, secretary of Health department of Cauca. He added that `` unfortunately in this case the breach of the guidelines surveillance by the responsible for handling the case prevented from reaching an accurate diagnosis ... because the indispensable fetal remains were discarded to diagnose or rule zika and the link with microcephaly. '' Guzman said that what happened at the medical center is because the zika is a relatively new event in Colombia and many health professionals have doubts about the protocols to be followed with patients infected by the virus. It was not possible to place telephone spokespeople clinic where he underwent the procedure. In Colombia they have been officially diagnosed with 37.011 zika patients. Of these, 6,356 are pregnant women. However, medical experts have said there could be more affected by the virus since at least 80% of cases are asymptomatic. http://www.critica.com.pa/mundo/colombia-caso-sospechoso-microcefalia-relacionado-con-zika-423872

Colombia confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika virusAccording to the doctor Juan Jose Alvarado, a woman of 18 years is the city of Popayan, in the southwest, and interrupted pregnancy By: Agency Brazil Published: 24/02/2016 14:28 Updated: The mosquito Aedes aegypti, the Zika virus transmitter. Photo: Venilton Kuchler / ANPRHealth authorities in Colombia announced today (24) the first case of a fetus with malformção, whose mother was infected by Zika virus. According to the doctor Juan Jose Alvarado, a woman of 18 years it is the city of Popayan, in the southwestern and interrupted pregnancy, after clinical trials proved the fetal malformation. The National Institute of Health of Colombia "confirmed the suspicion, after studies in the amniotic fluid of the mother showed the baby was infected by the virus. " According to the statements of Alvarado, the fetus had brain changes, microcephaly, tissue destruction and changes in cranial level. The Cauca Department of Health reported that the case occurred in the city of El Bordo and the termination of pregnancy was a voluntary decision the young. This is the first confirmed case in the country and for the authorities, "shows that the virus alone can affect the baby in the first trimester of pregnancy and possibly during the second quarter." the Zika virus has infected more than 37 thousand people in Colombia and of this total more than 6,000 pregnant women in different regions of the country. http://www.diariodepernambuco.com.br/app/outros/ultimas-noticias/46,37,46,10/2016/02/24/interna_mundo,628814/colombia-confirma-primeiro-caso-de-microcefalia-ligada-ao-virus-zika.shtml

comment0A +A-Linkedin0Facebook69Google+0TwitterTo printEmailColombia records 1st case possibly linked to microcephaly virus zikaO ESTADO DE S. PAULO February 24, 2016 | 18h 48 - Updated: February 24, 2016 | 21h 22 Pregnant 18 was infected by the virus and interrupted pregnancy after learning of malformation The National Institute of Health (NIH) of Colombia reported the first case of microcephaly probably associated with the virus in a clinic in the city of Popayan, in the southwest of the country. Ali, a young 18 year old had an abortion at 28 weeks of pregnancy after doctors confirmed that the fetus had "congenital anomaly incompatible with life" - in such cases, local law allows women to abort. RELATEDMinister says zika vaccine should be available in three yearsHall opens in the area east 2/1 dengue tents The woman who did the abortion was medically supervised by a history of infection zika and within the fulfillment process was done collecting the amniotic fluid sample, which tested positive for the transmission of the mother's virus to the child, he said in a statement director of the INS, Martha Ospina. She also said that in other accompaniments was already detected the transmission of the virus mothers to children, but until now the babies are healthy. http://saude.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,colombia-anuncia-1-caso-de-microcefalia-ligada-ao-zika,10000018117

Colombia: Aborted fetus may have had microcephaly Resize Text Print Article Comments 0 Book mark article Read later list Saved to Reading List By Associated Press February 25 at 12:59 PMBOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia is reporting the first probable case of Zika-related microcephaly in an aborted fetus as the country is on high alert for spread of the mosquito-borne virus. Officials said Wednesday that traces of Zika were found in the amniotic fluid of a woman whose fetus appeared to have signs of microcephaly. However they said the diagnosis could not be confirmed because the fetus was thrown away before more conclusive tests could be performed. Health authorities said Thursday they are investigating why guidelines were not followed. The abortion was performed on an 18 year-old woman in the southeastern city of Popayan. More than 6,000 pregnant women have been diagnosed with Zika in Colombia, but so far none has given birth to an infant with microcephaly as has occurred in Brazil. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/colombia-aborted-fetus-may-have-had-microcephaly/2016/02/25/7e9001c0-dbe9-11e5-8210-f0bd8de915f6_story.html

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Discussion and conclusionsEven if ZIKV transmission is mostly vectorial, transplacental and perinatal transmission have been reported; transmission through blood transfusion may also occur [16-18]. Little evidence supports the possibility of ZIKV sexual transmission to date. In December 2013, ZIKV was isolated from the semen of a patient with haematospermia in Tahiti [19]. Further in 2014, ZIKV RNA was detected 62 days after onset of febrile illness in the semen of a person with ZIKV infection, imported into the United Kingdom from the Cook Islands [20]. Sexual transmission from a man who acquired ZIKV infection in Senegal, to his wife was reported in Colorado, US, in 2007 [21], and more recently from a person who had travelled to Latin America, to his partner in Texas [22]. Possible sexual transmission of ZIKV is of particular concern during pregnancy, and specific guidelines for prevention of ZIKV infection through this route have been published recently [23]. Because patient 2 had not travelled to tropical areas during the previous year and had unprotected sexual intercourse with patient 1 during a 20 day period between his return to Italy and her own onset of symptoms, transmission by semen was suggested. Exact dates of sexual intercourse could not be recalled by the patients, who reported several sexual contact events before patient 2’s symptom onset. Other transmission modalities (i.e. direct contact with other bodily fluids) are unlikely to play a role but may not be completely ruled out. Transmission through local potentially competent vectors, Ae. albopictus, can likely be excluded considering that patient 1 came back to Italy outside the usual period of vector activity and vector control measures were implemented within eight days after his arrival to Italy, possibly before the estimated extrinsic incubation period could be completed [1,24]. Failure to detect viral RNA even in samples collected few days after the onset of symptoms, and an early detection of ZIKV-specific neutralising antibodies, are consistent with previous reports [10,19,25]; however, limits in the sensitivity of the real-time PCR method used in this study cannot be definitively excluded. Serological test results confirm the broad cross-reactivity between DENV and ZIKV. With respect to PRNT results, borderline results for DENV are likely to be due to a low degree of residual cross-reactivity which may not be eliminated even using this test, which is considered highly specific. Another possible limit of our study consists in the fact that only serotype 2 DENV PRNT could be performed; however, this is not likely to affect the interpretation of the results, which clearly show a pattern consistent with ZIKV infection. Current evidence supports the combined use of PCR and serological tests for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection. PCR can be positive in early serum and saliva samples (< 8 days after symptoms onset), with saliva showing higher detection rates, while PCR on urine seems to enlarge the window of detection of ZIKV RNA up to ca 30 days after symptoms onset [26,27]. Five days after disease onset, serological investigations can be conducted by detection of ZIKV-specific IgM antibodies and confirmation by neutralisation [28]. In conclusion, we provide additional evidence for sexual transmission of ZIKV. Further studies are needed to estimate the probability of sexual transmission and its role as a secondary route of transmission of ZIKV in epidemic and non-epidemic areas.

BackgroundZIKV is an Aedes-borne virus (Flaviviridae family), identified in 1947 in monkey rhesus in Uganda [2,3]. Sporadic human cases were reported in Asia and Africa until 2007, when a ZIKV outbreak occurred in Yap, Micronesia [4]. Subsequently, in October 2013, ZIKV reached French Polynesia, causing a large outbreak [5]. In early 2015, autochthonous cases of ZIKV were reported in Brazil [6], and the virus subsequently spread throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean [7-9]. An increasing number of imported cases has been observed in Europe and United States (US) [10-13]. The presumed association of ZIKV infection during pregnancy with increased number of babies born with microcephaly in Brazil [14] convinced the World Health Organization to declare ZIKV a 'Global Emergency of Public Health Concern’ in February 2016 [15].

Retrospective testing of serum samples in 2015 and 2016Serum samples of both patients were sent to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy, to perform confirmatory tests (Table) for DENV in June and September 2015, respectively. Plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNTs) for DENV gave inconclusive results for both patients: indeed, a 50% of plaque reduction was observed at a 1:10 serum dilution in the second and third serum samples of both patients, while we consider the cut-off for a positive result to be at least 80% of plaque reduction. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for DENV, chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV), as well as viral isolation in Vero E6 cell, were also performed on samples collected in the acute phase of the disease, all with negative results.Even though DENV PRNT results were inconclusive, patient 1 was counselled as having had dengue infection, given the history of travel and the classical kinetic of IgG and IgM antibodies measured by ELISA, while we were not able to state a definitive diagnosis for patient 2.After ZIKV for PRNT became available to us, the samples were reanalysed in February 2016 (the patients had given their informed consent for further tests), and showed positive results for ZIKV neutralising antibodies, as reported in the Table, with a clear increase in the antibody titre between the first and the second serum sample for both patients.

Case reportsAt the beginning of May 2014, an Italian man is his early 30s (patient 1) returned to Florence, Italy, after a 10-day holiday in Thailand. On the day after his arrival, he developed a confluent maculopapular rash, on the face, trunk, arms, and legs, with fever (maximum temperature 38 °C), conjunctivitis, and frontal headache with retroocular pain. Four days later, patient 1 was admitted to the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit of the Florence Careggi University Hospital. Blood tests revealed leucopenia (3,000 cells/µL; reference: 4,000–10,000/µL) while creatinine, platelet count and transaminases were normal. Serological investigation two days after (i.e. 6 days after symptoms onset), showed past exposure to measles and parvovirus, negative results for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1–2 Ab/Ag and chikungunya IgM, a positive result for dengue virus (DENV) IgM, and negative results for DENV IgG, as well as DENV NS1 Ag (Table). TableLaboratory diagnostic test results for dengue virus and Zika virus in two patients, Italy, 2014–2016 PatientDays from onset of symptomsDengue virus testsZika virus testsELISA IgMa,bELISA IgGa,bELISA NS1a,bELISA IgMa,cPRNT50a,ctitreReal-time PCRa,cPRNT80c,dtitreReal-time PCRa,c1624.25.212.232.01NegNeg1:10Neg3812.316.6NC2.891:10 (b.l.)NC≥1:160NC1093.2316.41.840.871:10 (b.l.)NC≥1:160NC251.344.633.810.46NegNeg1:10Neg393.2315.52.630.401:10 (b.l.)NC≥1:160NC932.5113.22.770.341:10 (b.l.)NC≥1:160NC b.l.: borderline; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; NC: not conducted; Neg: negative; PRNT: plaque reduction neutralisation tests; PCR: polymerase chain reaction. a Test performed in 2014. b Tests performed at Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence (Italy). Commercial ELISA (VIRCELL Granada-Spain). Reference values (index): > 11: positive; 9–11: inconclusive; < 9: negative. Positive results are highlighted in bold. c Tests performed at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome (Italy). Commercial IgM-capture ELISA system (Focus Diagnostics dengue Virus IgM Capture, DxSelect, California, US). Reference values (index): > 1 : positive; < 1 : negative. Positive results are highlighted in bold. Real-time PCRs were conducted on RNA from serum samples, as described in [29] and [30]. Dengue virus for PRNT: serotype 2 dengue virus (New Guinea B strain). PRNT80 titres ≥1:10 are considered positive, while PRNT50 titres ≥1:10 are considered as borderline. d Test retrospectively performed in 2016 on stored samples. Zika virus for PRNT was kindly provided by Dr Isabelle Leparc-Goffart of the French National Reference Center on Arboviruses in Marseille. The test was performed as described in detail for tick-borne encephalitis virus [31], except that Vero cells were used here. The symptoms subsequently rapidly resolved (total duration of fever and rash: 6 days) and he was discharged nine days after admission with a probable diagnosis of DENV infection. Perifocal vector control activities (including spraying adult mosquitoes and destruction of larval breeding sites) were implemented the day after the availability of DENV IgM positive results, around the patient’s residence and workplace, even though the period of activity of Aedes albopictus in Italy is usually considered to start in June and end in October [1]. A second and third blood test using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), performed 38 and 109 days after symptoms onset, showed DENV IgG seroconversion and IgM negativisation in the third sample. Nineteen days after the onset of symptoms in patient 1, his girlfriend (patient 2), who was in her late 20s developed diffuse pain, associated to both wrists and oedema on fingers of each hand, maculopapular rash on the trunk, arms, and legs, without fever. Four days later she was evaluated at the outpatient facility of the same hospital. Patient 2 had not travelled to tropical areas during the previous year. Blood tests performed on the next day (5 days after her symptoms started) showed normal white blood cells and platelet count, normal C-reactive protein, creatinine, transaminases, and undetectable beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The patient had IgG antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, parvovirus and rubella, while she was seronegative for coxsackie A, coxsackie B, echovirus and DENV (IgG, IgM and NS1 Ag). Serological tests were repeated 39 and 93 days after symptoms onset, respectively, showing a slight positivity for DENV IgG, with IgM and NS1Ag persistently negative (Table).

We report a case of Zika virus infection imported in Florence, Italy ex-Thailand, leading to a secondary autochthonous case, probably through sexual transmission. The two cases occurred in May 2014 but were retrospectively diagnosed in 2016 on the basis of serological tests (plaque reduction neutralisation) performed on stored serum samples. Our report provides further evidence that sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible.

G Venturi 1 , L Zammarchi 2 3 , C Fortuna 1 , ME Remoli 1 , E Benedetti 1 , C Fiorentini 1 , M Trotta 3 , C Rizzo 4 , A Mantella 2 , G Rezza 1 , A Bartoloni 2 3+ Author affiliations 1. Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediate Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy 2. Clinica Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy 3. SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Caeggi, Florence, Italy 4. National Center for Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. Correspondence: Alessandro Bartoloni ([email protected])

Eurosurveillance, Volume 21, Issue 8, 25 February 2016Rapid communication AN AUTOCHTHONOUS CASE OF ZIKA DUE TO POSSIBLE SEXUAL TRANSMISSION, FLORENCE, ITALY, 2014 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=21395

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) say the two samples sent from Louisiana to the CDC have tested positive for the Zika virus. Officials with DHH will not release the location or the region where the samples came from. The information about the two cases was released on February 11, 2016. Both cases are from individuals who recently traveled to a Caribbean country. Results from DHH lab tests performed on samples taken from the patients were positive for Zika virus, and samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing. Neither of the patients required hospitalization. Officials with DHH say the two individuals are not sick, nor were they symptomatic when the DHH reported the cases. "Therefore, there was no risk to others becoming infected." At this time, these two cases are the only identified cases in Louisiana, but DHH is monitoring several additional individuals who have recently traveled to the same region. None of the individuals who traveled to the country are pregnant. "We do not believe that Zika will spread from these suspected cases," DHH State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard said. "Local transmission of Zika by mosquitoes is very unlikely, given the weather and environmental conditions. The chances of getting Zika from a mosquito in Louisiana are very small." Health officials say Zika virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus then spread the virus to other people through bites. Ratard added that experts believe that Zika virus can be passed from an infected person to another person through mosquito bites only during the period that the viral infection is in the blood, which can last from several days to about a week. The Department continues to work closely with the CDC, health care professionals and mosquito abatement programs throughout the state to prevent the spread of Zika. For more information about Zika virus, visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/. http://www.kfvs12.com/story/31318985/dhh-two-cases-test-positive-for-zika-virus-in-louisiana

Risk to AlbertansThere is no risk that Albertans who are in the province will get Zika virus from a mosquito because the mosquitos that transmit Zika virus do not live in Canada due to the climate. There is a risk to Albertans of contracting Zika virus if they travel to countries where Zika virus circulates. There have been 4 lab-confirmed cases of Zika in Alberta, 1 in 2013 and 3 in 2016.All cases were acquired due to travel and the returning travellers do not pose a risk to public health in Alberta.http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/zika-virus.html

Colombia case not confirmedColombia's National Health Institute yesterday reported the country's first "probable" microcephaly case with suspected links to Zika virus, Reuters reported yesterday. Officials said Zika virus was detected in amniotic fluid from the deformed aborted fetus of an 18-year-old woman who was 28 weeks pregnant. So far only Brazil has reported a steep rise in potentially Zika-linked microcephaly cases, which followed the thought-to-be May 2015 onset of the country's outbreak. As global health officials piece together evidence for a link between the two conditions, they have said they're closely watching for any similar patterns to emerge in Colombia, which was hit later by the virus. Medical team members did not save or photograph the fetus, so the microcephaly case can't be confirmed, but they said it had an abnormally small head and added that traces of the virus were found in the woman's amniotic fluid. According to a recent statement from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Colombia has reported about 37,000 Zika virus illnesses, 6,300 of them in pregnant women. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/02/case-hints-other-severe-birth-defects-tied-zika

Brazilian and U.S. health workers from the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) draw blood from 3-month-old Esther Kamilly at her home in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, Wednesday as part of a study to determine if the Zika virus is causing babies to be born with a birth defect affecting the brain. Their goal is to persuade about 100 mothers of infants recently born with the defect as well to enroll in the study. They also need participation as controls of two to three times as many mothers from the same areas who delivered babies without microcephaly at about the same time. | APWORLD / SCIENCE & HEALTHZika a ‘formidable’ crisis; Bogota suspected microcephaly in discarded aborted fetusAFP-JIJI/AREUTERS FEB 25, 2016ARTICLE HISTORYPRINTSHARE RIO DE JANEIRO/BOGOTA – The Zika virus, believed to be linked to the serious birth defect microcephaly, presents a “formidable” challenge that will be hard to stamp out, World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan said Wednesday. “Things could get worse before it gets better,” she said in Rio de Janeiro after a fact-finding mission to Brazil, the epicenter of the global health scare. Chan said part of the challenge in fighting the mosquito-borne virus was the fact that it is so “mysterious.” Even the link to microcephaly remains not fully proven. “We are dealing with a tricky virus, full of uncertainties, so we should be prepared for surprises,” she said. Chan praised the Brazilian government’s efforts to stamp out mosquitoes and its coordination with various international bodies, including the WHO and the International Olympic Movement, ahead of the Summer Games in Rio this August. Brazil is the main focus of a Zika outbreak, with 1.5 million people infected, and authorities have also recorded a spike in microcephaly, a congenital condition that causes abnormally small heads and hampers brain development. On Tuesday, Brazil’s health ministry reported 583 confirmed cases of babies with microcephaly since October, compared to an annual average of 150. That was a 14.7 percent rise over the number of confirmed cases the previous week, and authorities were investigating another 4,107 possible cases. An estimated 120 babies have died due to the birth defect, the ministry said. Colombian health officials meanwhile reported on Wednesday a “probable” case of microcephaly possibly linked to Zika, as the country closely watches potential impacts of the mosquito-borne virus. The country’s National Health Institute said Zika virus was identified in the amniotic fluid surrounding a severely deformed and aborted fetus. The abortion was performed on an 18-year-old mother when she was 28 weeks pregnant. Photographs were not taken of the fetus, but the doctor in Popayan, in the southwestern region of Cauca, had reported the fetus having an abnormally small head and considered it microcephaly, the institute, known as INS, said. Zika infection in pregnant women has not been proven to cause microcephaly in newborns. In Brazil, a huge spike in the birth defect followed the arrival of Zika last year, leading scientists to strongly suspect a link. Colombia has had its own Zika outbreak since October, and is monitoring pregnant women exposed to the virus, but has yet to cite a case of microcephaly. The Popayan case cannot be confirmed as microcephaly since the remains of the fetus were thrown away immediately after the abortion and tests could not be made, INS said. Traces of Zika were detected in the amniotic fluid, it said. “Unfortunately in this case, the breach of guidelines by those responsible for handling the case in Cauca prevented an accurate diagnosis being reached,” Martha Lucia Ospina, director of the INS, said in a statement. “They discarded the fetal remains that were indispensable to diagnose or rule out Zika and the link with microcephaly and other abnormalities.” Brazil said it has confirmed more than 580 cases of microcephaly, and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The country is investigating more than 4,100 additional suspected cases of microcephaly. Colombia — which has reported more than 37,000 cases of Zika including 6,356 in pregnant women — is seen as a key test case for the impacts of a Zika outbreak. The health minister last week said Colombia is reconsidering its own forecast of babies likely to be born with the rare birth defect linked to Zika. The government originally projected it could see some 500 to 600 cases of Zika-linked microcephaly. But it may take several more weeks, or months, for cases to emerge as signs of microcephaly may only be detected very late in pregnancy, experts say. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/25/world/science-health-world/zika-formidable-crisis-bogota-suspected-microcephaly-discarded-aborted-fetus/#.VtAWgfkrKdt

Colombia Registers First ‘Probable’ Microcephaly Case in Aborted Zika Baby30 APby MARY CHASTAIN25 Feb 20164 Colombian health officials announced a “probable” microcephaly case in an aborted fetus and discovered the Zika virus in the amniotic fluid.An 18-year-old girl aborted the baby at 28 weeks in Popayan, located in Cauca. The doctors saw the baby had “an abnormally small head and considered it microcephaly.” The National Health Institute did not examine the baby since doctors threw away the body. “Unfortunately in this case, the breach of guidelines by those responsible for handling the case in Cauca prevented an accurate diagnosis being reached,” explained director Martha Lucia Ospina. “They discarded the fetal remains that were indispensable to diagnose or rule out Zika and the link with microcephaly and other abnormalities.” The Zika outbreak reached Colombia in October 2015. The country has recorded 37,000 Zika cases, among them 6,300 pregnant women. Doctors “confirmed the presence of Zika in 522 of those cases.” Unlike Brazil, Colombia has not linked any babies with microcephaly to Zika, even though Colombia has the second-largest number of Zika cases. Microcephaly occurs when the brain does not form properly during pregnancy or after birth, causing a small head. Children can suffer from seizures, developmental delays, intellectual disability, and feeding problems. Doctors cannot diagnose microcephaly until the third trimester or after birth: Virologist Gubio Soares, who first identified the pervasive Zika virus in Brazil, suggestedthat legalized abortion in French Polynesia may have prevented scientists from uncovering a link between Zika and severe infant deformities sooner. During a lecture, Soares claimed scientists do not know for sure if a link exists between Zika and microcephaly. This is mainly because women in places where Zika breeds often aborted children who showed signs of microcephaly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that doctors had confirmed the Zika virus in the tissue of infants who died from microcephaly. “This is the strongest evidence to date that Zika is the cause of microcephaly,” explained CDC Director Tom Frieden. “Zika is new, and new diseases can be scary, particularly when they can affect the most vulnerable among us.” Frieden stopped short of claiming Zika caused the microcephaly. He said scientists need to perform more tests to confirm an actual link. In Brazil, Dr. Sandra Mattos found data on 100,000 newborns since 2012. At least 1,600 babies born in the last years had microcephaly or smaller-than-normal heads. “We were very, very surprised,” stated Mattos. “Borderline cases seem to be present all along.” CBC News reports: Mattos told the World Health Organization that “other potential factors need to be considered” since 80% of the microcephaly babies live in northeast Brazil. http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/02/25/colombia-has-probable-microcephaly-case/

1. Colombia reports a “probable” case of microcephaly in an aborted fetusOver 6,000 pregnant women in Colombia have Zika virus, and now the country is reporting its first “probable" microcephaly case, reports Reuters. Health officials said that the virus was present in the amniotic fluid of an aborted fetus, and the fetus, at 28 weeks, was severely deformed. Unfortunately, the fetal remains were improperly discarded, which means the country’s health officials cannot confirm the condition or that the fetus was infected with Zika virus. The country has established new protocol for tracking pregnant women who test positive for Zika virus, reports NPR. It includes monthly ultrasounds and the careful collection of data about the point of time in their pregnancy the women got Zika virus. Scientists around the world are watching Colombia as more of the women with Zika virus continue to progress in their pregnancies and give birth. The results could help to confirm whether or not Zika virus is responsible for causing severe birth defects in babies. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-latest-on-zika-virus-colombias-first-probable-microcephaly-case_us_56cf45c0e4b0bf0dab3124fa