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Jamaica's first confirmed Zika case is 4 year old who returned from Texas.

ChetumalZika enters Q. Roo; detected two cases in policeAuthorities apply health fence at marine terminals and Cancun airport. Tuesday, Jan 26, 2016 4:33 SHIPPING The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the transmitter of dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. (Context / Internet) Paloma Wong / SIPSE Chetumal, Q. Roo.- Two suspected cases of Zika were detected within the workforce of the City of Tulum , specifically in the Municipal Police, precisely elements in his day off move to other cities in Quintana Roo or the neighboring state of Yucatan and returning symptoms of the disease. This was announced by Juan Mena Ramos, head of the Municipal Department of Health, who said that these cases are not confirmed 100% that they are cases of Zika and are prepared and tuned the health authorities of the three levels of government combat this problem. The State Health Department (SESA) established a cordon sanitaire against zika and maritime terminals Cozumel and Mahahual, and Cancún International Airport installed filters to detect any suspected cases of the disease. Juan Lorenzo Ortegón Pacheco, Secretary of Health confirmed that Mexico is in emergencyepidemiological by this virus, despite the low incidence reported, because at the end of 2015 were confirmed 15 cases between the states of Nuevo Leon, Queretaro, Chiapas and Jalisco. You may also be interested in: Zika, a virus that causes malformation of the baby during pregnancy He said that most health surveillance is at points of arrival of wankers from Central and South America, where there is more incidence of zika. In addition to monitoring in seaports and at the airport, he said that those responsible for the health center and hospitals are responsible for reporting any suspected cases coming from the surrounding rural communities with Belize and Guatemala, including those crossing daily by the Free Zone. "We are giving the very specific monitoring to such conditions, in addition to that we have applied our staff training, including laboratory area to detect cases of Zika" he said. SYMPTOMS It is noteworthy that the difference between the zika and the other two diseases (dengue and chikungunya) infected with the Aedes aegypti mosquito , is the presence of conjunctivitis as a general condition, while in pregnant women usually affects the product, especially if they are in the first trimester of pregnancy, cause neurological damage during pregnancy. In adults it can cause irritation to the nerves or flaccid paralysis. He said no reports of the virus in Quintana Roo, but their presence is discarded, as was the case withchikungunya, as it is a viral disease. Ortegón Pacheco said that since last year kept preventive actions, such as epidemiological training, larval control and spraying in urban neighborhoods and rural areas, while the population belongs cleaning patios and roofs of their homes to avoid breeding of flies.

Zika Suspected In Police In Tulum Quintana Roo (near Yucatan) http://sipse.com/novedades/zika-cancun-dengue-chikungunya-sesa-cerco-sanitario-quintana-roo-oms-salud-quintana-roo-188826.html

Life | Tue Jan 26, 2016 4:02pm ESTRelated: HEALTH, MEXICOMexico says 'no justification' for delaying pregnancies over ZikaMEXICO CITY | BY RODOLFO PENA ROJA There is currently "no justification" for asking Mexican women to postpone getting pregnant because of an outbreak of the mosquito-born virus Zika, a senior Mexican Health Ministry official said on Tuesday. Zika, which has spread across the Americas, has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, leading health authorities in Colombia and El Salvador to advise women against getting pregnant for anywhere up to two years. There are 18 cases of Zika in Mexico, with 13 in the southern state of Chiapas, four in the northern state of Nuevo Leon and one in the western state of Jalisco, said Pablo Kuri, deputy minister for prevention and health promotion. "In Mexico, right now, there is no justification to tell a woman not to get pregnant when we only have cases in three places," Kuri said in an interview. "We'll have to see in the future, given the experiences in Central and South America, if these types of recommendations really have any effect. You can tell people not to get pregnant, but that doesn't mean they won't." Kuri said all 18 people contracted the virus in Mexico, rather than catching it abroad and traveling to Mexico. But he said the many migrants traveling north to the United States from Central America, and particularly El Salvador, which has been badly hit by the outbreak, could add to the Zika tally in Mexico. Given the paucity of cases, he said that "the risk of coming to Mexico is extremely low," as many parts of the country, including Mexico City, had such high elevations that the low-lying Zika mosquito could not strike there. On Monday, the World Health Organization predicted the virus would spread to all countries across the Americas except for Canada and Chile. There is currently no vaccine for Zika. The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute is leading research on Zika and says it plans to develop a vaccine "in record time," although its director warned that was still likely to take three to five years. Kuri was skeptical about those claims. "The development of the dengue vaccine took various decades," he said. "A vaccine is no trivial thing. You can't just make it in someone's garden." (Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Peter Cooney) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-mexico-idUSKCN0V42MQ

Six Cases of Zika Virus Confirmed in Texas: OfficialsPregnant Women Grow Concerned About Zika Virus, Cancel TripsBy Kevin CokelyState health officials say there are now six confirmed cases of Zika virus in Texas, and travel agents are hearing from pregnant women and others who want to change their travel plans due to the virus. "A lot of concern," said Steve Cosgrove at Southlake's Dynamic Travel and Cruises. "They're pleased that the major carriers are allowing them to cancel or re-book with no penalty. Carnival is now allowing people to rebook with no penalty, but quite a bit of concern out there." Fired Officer Guilty in Human SmugglingAbout a dozen of his clients this week canceled cruises and other trips because of the virus. "Cancel, rebook, reschedule, pick another destination," said Cosgrove. Louisiana Jury Convicts Businessman for BriberyOthers who don't plan to travel are also concerned about their unborn babies, reaching out to their doctors with questions about the virus. "(They say) 'Do we need to do something, do we need to be worried?'" said Dr. Kelli Culpepper, OB-GYN at Medical City Dallas. "I said, at this point, no. We don't have it in Dallas, but I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell every patient every spring when West Nile season starts: use bug spray." Texas Man Extradited to New Jersey for MurderCulpepper advises pregnant women to avoid traveling to countries affected by the Zika virus. "I would say if you don't have to take the trip, don't take it. Don't take it," said Culpepper. "It's just not worth the risk." VIDEOEthan Couch: What Happens Next?The Texas Department of State Health Services said Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed six cases of Zika in Southeast Texas. All of the cases are associated with travel to areas where Zika is currently being transmitted. Published at 9:52 PM CST on Jan 29, 2016http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Pregnant-Women-Grow-Concerned-About-Zika-Virus-Cancel-Trips-367050111.html

6 confirmed cases of Zika virus in TX, 6 more being tested in Bexar Co.Everyone being tested had traveled to South AmericaBy Chris Shadrock - Web - News ProducerPosted: 5:04 PM, January 29, 2016Updated: 9:41 AM, January 30, 20161K Twitter 1KSAN ANTONIO - The state of Texas has six confirmed travel-related cases of Zika virus disease in the state. The travelers were infected abroad and diagnosed after they returned home. There has been no reported local transmission of the disease in the continental United States. More Health HeadlinesMosquitoes carrying Zika virus harmful to pregnant womenLocal OB/GYN advises pregnant women to avoid travel to southThe announcement comes on the same day MetroHealth confirmed that six people in Bexar County have been tested for the virus after showing symptoms. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause fever, rash, muscle and joint aches and pinkeye. Symptoms are usually mild, and most people exposed to Zika virus won’t develop any symptoms at all. There have been reports of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. The Texas Department of State Health Services is encouraging people to follow travel precautions for regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. DSHS recommends travelers avoid mosquito bites while abroad and for seven days after returning, in case they have been exposed to Zika virus. People can protect themselves from mosquito bites by: Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pantsUsing EPA-registered insect repellentsUsing permethrin-treated clothing and gear Staying and sleeping in screened-in or air-conditioned roomshttp://www.ksat.com/health/half-dozen-people-in-bexar-co-being-tested-for-zika-virus

Pa. residents being tested for Zika virus linked to birth defect Jaqueline Vieira, left, watches as her 3-month-old son Daniel, who was born with microcephaly, as he undergoes physical therapy at the Altino Ventura foundation in Recife, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. Brazilian officials still say they believe there's a sharp increase in cases of microcephaly and strongly suspect the Zika virus, which first appeared in the country last year, is to blame. The concern is strong enough that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month warned pregnant women to reconsider visits to areas where Zika is present. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (Felipe Dana)PrintEmailBy David Wenner | [email protected] Email the author | Follow on Twitter on January 29, 2016 at 4:09 PM, updated January 29, 2016 at 4:18 PM5shares Six to eight Pennsylvania residents are being tested for the Zika virus, a mosquito-carried disease linked to a severe birth defect involving a small head and under-developed brain. All are believed to have picked up the virus outside the United States in one of the South American or Caribbean counties experiencing outbreaks of Zika, according to a panel of Pennsylvania experts who addressed the outbreak Friday. The experts didn't know the exact number of Pennsylvania cases, or how many of them are pregnant and thereby face the greatest threat from Zika. Their samples were sent to a federal lab in Atlanta, and it takes up to two weeks to receive results. For most people, Zika causes mild flu-like symptoms which go away within about a week, they said. Still, the panel advised anyone who has traveled to the affected areas and experience symptoms to be tested. They further advised any pregnant woman who has traveled to those areas to notify their doctor. The woman would likely receive ultrasounds aimed at detecting signs of the birth defect, microcephaly, they said. There is no cure for Zika virus or microcephaly, which likely results in lifelong disability. Nor is there vaccine to prevent Zika infection. On Friday, the Pennsylvania doctors advised pregnant woman to avoid traveling to any of the 24 countries were outbreaks are occurring. "I think it is a very big deal for pregnant women," Dr. Ray Pontzer, a Pittsburgh area infectious disease specialist, said of the outbreak. Meanwhile, the experts also predicted growing concern and mosquito monitoring once warmer weather hits Pennsylvania. The outbreak is expected to reach the United States, since the two species of mosquito which carry it live here. One of the species, the Asian tiger mosquito, lives in Pennsylvania, although it's not believed to be the main carrier. "We're going to double down on our efforts to monitor mosquitoes when spring comes," said Dr. Loren Robinson of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Zika virus: carrier of birth defect-causing illness lives in Pa. How likely is an epidemic? The Pennsylvania experts said many things are unknown about Zika virus, which was first found in Africa in 1947, but was only recently linked to microcephaly, possibly as a result of a mutation. For example, it's unknown what portion of pregnant women bitten by an infected mosquito transfer Zika to their fetus, and what portion end up with a child with microcephaly. Dr. Kurt Barnhart, a Philadelphia-area ob-gyn doctor, said the defect seems to be occurring in only a small portion of Zika infections. It's also unknown whether the risk of microcephaly is present throughout pregnancy or whether it is limited to say, the first trimester, when birth defect-causing illnesses often strike. Nor it it known how long the risk of transferring Zika to a fetus exists, although the doctors speaking Friday said they wouldn't expect the risk to last more than three months. As a result of that, they said they would advise a woman who has been in an area affected by the outbreak to wait two or three months before becoming pregnant. There is growing alarm over the outbreak, with the World Health Organization on Thursday saying Zika is "spreading explosively" throughout the Americas, and calling for an emergency meeting to try to find ways to stop the spread. In the United States, there are 31 confirmed cases of Zika in 11 states, with all believed to have originated outside the United States. But it has spread as far north as Mexico and is expected to show up in the United States after warm weather arrives and mosquitoes become more active. http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/pennsylvania_mosquitoes_screen.html

Zika concern rising, but region 'should be just fine' Dana DiFilippo And Don Sapatkin, STAFF WRITERS LAST UPDATED: Friday, January 29, 2016, 8:24 PM POSTED: Friday, January 29, 2016, 12:16 PM image: http://media.philly.com/designimages/partnerIcon-Inquirer-2014.jpg "The good news is that Pennsylvania should be just fine," said Herbert Cushing, chief medical officer at Temple University Hospital and an infectious disease expert. "The mosquito that spreads this, the Aedes aegypti species, is not here. It's along the Gulf Coast of the United States but doesn't come much further north than that." Still, anyone traveling to Brazil or other tropical locations, including Central America, should take precautions, such as using insect repellent and otherwise avoiding getting bitten by mosquitoes, Cushing added. The virus, first detected in the late 1940s in Africa, didn't draw much notice until last year, when scientists linked an outbreak in Brazil to a small number of cases of birth defects known as microcephaly. It also may cause rare cases of temporary paralysis in adults and miscarriages in pregnant women. Eighty percent of Zika infections cause no symptoms at all and most of the rest are so minor that public health officials have so far refrained from the common cautions about dangers to the elderly or people with compromised immune systems. "It is very mild compared to influenza and other diseases like Dengue or Chikungunya, so there is not that much risk for the general population," Raymond Pontzer, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said during a conference call with reporters on Friday. The World Health Organization has said that Zika is spreading so quickly that it could infect up to four million people in the next year. There is no vaccine or treatment for the virus. While mosquitoes are the primary culprit, there has been one report of possible spread of the virus through blood transfusion and another through sexual contact, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, neither is considered a likely way to get the disease. At least 31 Zika cases have been confirmed in the continental U.S. since last year, including one in North Jersey. All of them were acquired overseas. A woman visiting Bergen County from Colombia contracted Zika in her home country and became ill while visiting in late November. She made a full recovery. Pennsylvania has sent blood samples from at least six people for testing to the CDC, which currently has the only lab in the nation capable of testing for the virus, Loren K. Robinson, a deputy secretary of the state Department of Health, told reporters on Friday. The New Jersey Department of Health does not comment on unconfirmed cases, a spokeswoman said. Since the disease has been spread elsewhere by a mosquito that doesn't survive in the Philadelphia region, even in summer, entomologist Randy Gaugler said his biggest concern was about a species that he studies and is common locally, Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. "In the laboratory it can transmit [Zika]. We don't know about in the field," said Gaugler, director of Rutgers University's Center for Vector Biology. Neil O. Fishman, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Pennsylvania, thought it was unlikely that local mosquitoes would cause widespread disease. "We haven't seen that with Dengue and we haven't seen that with Chikungunya," he said. West Nile virus, which arrived about 15 years ago and spread quickly, is carried by a different mosquito, Fishman said. West Nile caused a vast expansion in mosquito monitoring and control around the country. Every species has different behavior and migratory patterns; some bite at night, others during the day. But if Zika does arrive in the region, surveillance would "probably be loosely based on what we do for West Nile," said Robinson, the Pennsylvania health official. For now, public health officials in the Philadelphia region are downplaying local worries. But they urge pregnant women to postpone travel to areas with ongoing outbreaks. Anyone who has visited the two dozen affected countries and is experiencing the flulike symptoms of Zika - mild fever, headache, joint or muscle pain, red eyes, skin rash, and vomiting - should see their doctor, according to the city's public health department. Rather than worrying about a virus thousands of miles away, local doctors have other suggestions for residents. "The flu kills 30,000 people a year in this country," Cushing said. "So this is a good opportunity to remind people that if you're going to do one thing to protect your health this year, go out and get your flu shot." Michael Weisberg, a University of Pennsylvania professor who studies the scientific method, is leading an alumni trip to the Amazon next month. He is advising passengers to take precautions against bug bites. "Ironically, the one person who may not travel with us is my wife," said Weisberg, who chairs the philosophy department. "We are considering having a second child and out of an abundance of caution, she may not join the trip." [email protected]@DonSapatkin Staff writer Sam Wood contributed to this article. Should You Be Concerned About the Zika Virus?Most of what is known about the mosquito-borne Zika virus comes from its explosive spread in Central and South America. The Philadelphia region is different. Who should be worried? For now, public health officials say they are mainly concerned about pregnant women who recently traveled to any of the affected countries. A small number of cases there have been linked to birth defects. Women who are pregnant have been advised to postpone travel to those areas. Pregnant women who recently returned from infected areas should consult their health-care provider. Could the mosquitoes responsible come here? The species that caused the epidemic in the tropics, Aedes aegypti, does not live near Philadelphia. Could other species spread it? Aedes albopictus, which is common locally, is theoretically able to carry the virus, but there are no known examples outside of laboratory conditions. If it does, then the virus could spread locally. Whether albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, would be an efficient vector - able to easily transmit the virus from one animal to another when it feeds on blood - is unknown. Could the virus mutate? A mutation that allows Zika to be carried by other mosquito species is possible. The likelihood is unknown. Could it be transmitted in other ways? Widespread person-to-person transmission is very unlikely. Viruses like dengue, which has been carried by the same mosquitoes for years, are not passed from one human to another. Transmission via blood transfusion and sexual contact have been reported but not confirmed. What are the symptoms? They are similar to the flu, although Zika typically is milder. Four out of five infections cause no symptoms at all. How can I protect myself from Zika? Unlike many developing countries, the United States has established mosquito-eradication programs; most houses have window screens; and many homes and workplaces are air-conditioned. If Zika arrives in the region, expect public-health officials to give the same antimosquito guidance that they do for West Nile virus, only louder: Get rid of standing water, where the insects lay their eggs: birdbaths, old tires, cans, gutters. Repair broken screens. Wear long pants and shirts when mosquitoes are active, and use insecticide containing DEET. What's the big deal? Residents of the Americas do not have immunity to the virus. Birth defects as well as temporary paralysis in adults are rare but serious. Perhaps the biggest concern is that so much about Zika is unknown. - Don Sapatkin Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20160130_Zika_concern_rising__but_Pa___should_be_just_fine_.html#JrGAi2Otbj68i9gC.99

No Zika cases confirmed in Pennsylvania; some being tested for virusBlood samples of 6 to 8 people in state, who traveled to affected countries, are being testedUPDATED 9:56 PM EST Jan 29, 2016Text Size:AAA SHOW TRANSCRIPT PITTSBURGH —No confirmed cases of the Zika virus are in Pennsylvania, but a state health department official says six to eight people's blood is being tested for the presence of the virus. ZIKA VIRUS 'SPREADING EXPLOSIVELY,' WHO SAYSThe Zika virus is "is now spreading explosively" in the Americas, the head of the World Health Organization said Thursday, with another official estimating between 3 million to 4 million infections in the region over a 12-month period. "The level of c... MOREZIKA VIRUS: AIRLINES ARE REFUNDING TICKETS TO LATIN AMERICAAirlines are starting to offer refunds to passengers who have booked flights to countries in central and south America caught up in the Zika virus outbreak. MORESCIENTISTS ENGINEER MUTANT MOSQUITOS TO FIGHT ZIKA VIRUSA company in England says the key to combating Zika virus problem is more mosquitoes. MOREThe individuals had traveled to countries where the Zika outbreak is under way. VIDEO: Watch Bob Mayo's report Dr. Loren Robinson, deputy secretary for health promotion in the Pennsylvania Health Department, released the information during a telephone conference call organized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society. The testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that there's no indication the individuals whose blood is being tested is from Allegheny County. "We could certainly have members of our community who have gone traveling to some of the countries where they have seen Zika. It's certainly possible they could come back to Pennsylvania. But we don't have any information at this point about anyone in our county who has been infected," Hacker said. MORE:Latest on the spread, who's most at risk Zika virus is not transmitted through casual person-to-person contact. "Certainly not through coughing or any of the types of things you'd see from flu for example," Hacker said. Bites from infected mosquitoes can carry the Zika virus to humans. The mosquitoes are blamed for the spread of the Zika virus in two dozen countries in Central and South America. "There's no worry that you will contract this virus in western Pennsylvania. we don't have any evidence that the mosquitoes here have been infected," Hacker said. Hacker said there's a type of mosquito in Pennsylvania that theoretically could become a carrier of Zika but none have been found. "For those of us staying in Allegheny County, there should be no fear or concern at this time," Hacker said. It's the danger of the virus potentially causing birth defects that is the biggest concern. The defect is microcephaly, in which the infant's head is smaller than normal and the brain has not properly developed. "We are recommending that women who are thinking of getting pregnant in the near future or who are pregnant seriously consider not going to countries where Zika is present," said Hacker. "We would suggest that if you were pregnant while traveling (to the affected countries), you should speak to your physician and they may opt to do an ultrasound to make sure there's nothing wrong with the pregnancy." MORE:See if your airline is offering ticket refunds Only one in five people who get the Zika virus show any symptoms. Eighty percent show no symptoms at all. "There is discussion about working on a vaccine but no vaccine currently exists. So again, the best strategies we have are preventive strategies," Hacker said. "The vast majority of people who contract Zika virus probably don't even know they have it. And for those who do get symptoms, it probably feels like a bad flu," Hacker said. The Pennsylvania Health Department says when warm weather arrives, the state will be monitoring mosquitoes in the commonwealth to see if any of them test positive for the presence of the Zika virus http://www.wtae.com/news/no-zika-virus-cases-confirmed-in-pennsylvania/37716150

Suspected Zika cases surface in PennsylvaniaBY BEN SCHMITT | Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, 3:33 p.m.More online For details on the Zika virus, visit:www.pamedsoc.org/Stories/News-You-Can-Use/Zika-Virus.html Email NewslettersSign up for one of our email newsletters. Updated 6 hours ago From six to eight Pennsylvanians who recently traveled out of the country are being tested for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, state officials said Friday. The potentially infected people exhibited symptoms of Zika, said Dr. Loren Robinson, deputy secretary of health promotion and disease prevention at the state Department of Health. Robinson and other state medical experts addressed reporters during a conference call Friday. She did not elaborate on where the people live, their ages or gender. Blood test results are pending with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike the flu, Zika cannot be transmitted from person to person. She explained that no commercial test for Zika is available, so all potential cases are being sent to the CDC. Tests can take up to two weeks to complete. There is no cure for the Zika virus nor is there a vaccine to prevent it. In many cases, symptoms are mild or go unnoticed, experts said. Symptoms can last from a week to 10 days. However, Zika has been linked to an increase in the births of babies with abnormally small heads in Brazil, a condition known as microcephaly. The World Health Organization this week said the virus is spreading “explosively” and could affect as many as 4 million people in the Americas. Zika spreads through mosquito bites, and symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. The virus has been confirmed in more than 20 countries, mostly in Central and South America, according to the CDC. It is spread by the same mosquito that spreads dengue and yellow fever. The primary mosquito that carries Zika is not found in Pennsylvania, Robinson said. However, the Asian tiger mosquito, a secondary type of mosquito that can carry the disease, has been found in the state. “We're going to double down on our efforts to monitor mosquitoes when spring comes,” she said. Dr. Kurt Barnhart, chair of the Pennsylvania section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told reporters that not all cases of pregnant women with Zika result in microcephaly. However, pregnant women should heed travel warnings, said Dr. Ray Pontzer, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Allegheny County Medical Society. “I think it is a very big deal for pregnant women,” Pontzer said. The CDC has issued a travel alert for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is occurring. Those countries and territories included in the travel alert are: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa. Zika is named after the Zika forest in Uganda, where it was first discovered in 1947. Ben Schmitt is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7991 [email protected]. http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/9873558-74/zika-health-mosquito

Media reports cite testing of 8 suspect Zika cases in Pennsylvania.

Metro Health: Six people in Bexar Co. tested for Zika virusAnusha Roy, KENS 510:55 p.m. CST January 29, 2016(Photo: KENS 5) CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORESAN ANTONIO -- Metro Health officials confirmed to KENS 5 that six people are being tested for the Zika virus in Bexar County. They have not confirmed that any of the patients contracted the virus. Test results from the CDC could be available by next week. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is encouraging people to not panic. There have been no confirmed cases of Texas mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, which Dr. Anil Mangla said indicates the virus is not spreading locally. "If you are not traveling outside of the U.S. you don't have the risk of Zika as of yet," Dr. Mangla said. Officials stressed that if the six Bexar County patients have the virus, they would have been infected outside the United States. Metro Health officials added that the six had traveled to a variety of South American countries, and none of them are pregnant. The mosquito-borne illness has spread to 22 countries in the Americas, including Brazil. After a surge of babies born were born there with small heads and underdeveloped brains, researchers are worried the virus could be linked to the birth defects. The CDC is warning expectant moms to not travel to countries battling the virus. Cases have already been diagnosed in the U.S., including six cases in Southeast Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. In a statement, DSHS said all the people diagnosed with Zika traveled to areas where the virus is spreading. The CDC has now passed down guidelines for doctors to ask patients about their travel history if they are showing symptoms, including fever, rash, conjunctivitis and joint pain. There currently is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus. If you must travel, experts recommend you let your doctor know so you can be checked out when coming back to the country. http://www.kens5.com/story/news/health/your-health/2016/01/29/metro-health-six-people-bexar-co-tested-zika-virus/79529324/

Map update https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=zv94AJqgUct4.kT4qLMXp3SLU

5 confirmed, 4 suspected Zika cases in area, officials sayUpdated 1:13 pm, Friday, January 29, 2016Zika infections have been confirmed in five travelers returning to the Houston area and are suspected in four more, city and county health officials said Friday. At meeting of public health officials and medical providers, the officials said three confirmed and two suspected cases involved travel to El Salvador. The Houston Health Department confirmed two case, one in a woman returning from Colombia and another in man from Honduras, and have two additional presumed cases. None of those infected were pregnant at the time of their infection. Dr. Brian Arenare, Director of Disease Control and Clinical Prevention for Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, said the half dozen cases are likely just the tip of the iceberg for the Houston region. "Our physicians didn't know they should be testing for Zika. Now they know," he said. "We're faced with, before the bona fide mosquito season actually begins, having this important opportunity to plan what kinds of steps need to be in place now, so that we're as far ahead of the curve as we can be." http://www.chron.com/houston/article/More-cases-few-answers-on-Zika-in-Houston-6793265.php

Media reports cite 5 confirmed and 4 suspect Zika cases in Harris County and 6 suspect cases in Bexar County. Official number of confirmed cases in Texas at 6.

6:30 p.m. Colombia and Venezuela says they are both seeing a jump in cases of a rare, sometimes-paralyzing syndrome that may be linked to the Zika virus. Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said Friday Colombia has now recorded 41 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome that appear to be linked to Zika. It had detected 12 such cases a week ago. Colombia says it's had about 16,500 suspected cases of Zika, though only a small fraction have been confirmed by laboratory tests. The mosquito-borne virus is spreading rapidly after being detected last year in Brazil. Investigators are scrambling to determine if it's related to seeming increases in the birth defect known as microcephaly or to Guillain-Barre, which can leave patients temporarily paralyzed. Venezuelan Health Minister Luisana Melo said her country's seen 255 cases of Guillain-Barre, apparently as part of its effort to fight Zika, though she did not specify the link or the time frame. Former Health Minister Jose Oletta says the country normally sees 30 to 40 cases of Guillain-Barre a month and said the large number now indicates that Zika infections are far greater than the roughly 4,500 suspected cases than officials acknowledge.

Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said Friday Colombia has now recorded 41 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome that appear to be linked to Zika. It had detected 12 such cases a week ago. http://www.waow.com/story/31090178/the-latest-paralyzing-illness-grows-in-colombia-venezuela

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The Latest on the Zika virus and fears it could be linked to birth defects (all times local): 0:20 a.m. The White House says President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff have discussed their concerns about the spread of the Zika virus. In a telephone conversation Friday, the leaders agreed on the importance of working together to spearhead research and speed development of vaccines and other technologies to control the mosquito-borne virus. They also agreed to prioritize building national, regional and global networks to fight the threat from infectious diseases more broadly. The Zika virus is spreading rapidly after it was detected last year in Brazil. Investigators are working to figure out whether it's related to seeming increases in the birth defect known as microcephaly or to Guillain-Barre, which can cause temporary paralysis. In the United States, the head of its infectious disease institute says the U.S. is preparing should the virus spread there. So far there have been no transmissions of the disease within the United States. ___ 6:30 p.m. Colombia and Venezuela says they are both seeing a jump in cases of a rare, sometimes-paralyzing syndrome that may be linked to the Zika virus. Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said Friday Colombia has now recorded 41 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome that appear to be linked to Zika. It had detected 12 such cases a week ago. Colombia says it's had about 16,500 suspected cases of Zika, though only a small fraction have been confirmed by laboratory tests. The mosquito-borne virus is spreading rapidly after being detected last year in Brazil. Investigators are scrambling to determine if it's related to seeming increases in the birth defect known as microcephaly or to Guillain-Barre, which can leave patients temporarily paralyzed. Venezuelan Health Minister Luisana Melo said her country's seen 255 cases of Guillain-Barre, apparently as part of its effort to fight Zika, though she did not specify the link or the time frame. Former Health Minister Jose Oletta says the country normally sees 30 to 40 cases of Guillain-Barre a month and said the large number now indicates that Zika infections are far greater than the roughly 4,500 suspected cases than officials acknowledge. 6 p.m. The head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease says he doesn't think airports need to screen travelers coming into the United States from Latin American and Carribean countries that have outbreaks of the Zika virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci says that isn't necessary for now because the disease is borne by mosquitoes and is not transmitted from one person to another. Fauci said at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. on Friday that the U.S. is taking the virus "very seriously" and is preparing in case it should spread here. But he says Americans shouldn't "get overly panicked" since there have been no transmissions of the disease within the United States. The Zika virus causes only a mild illness in most people. But there's mounting evidence linking it to a birth defect, especially in Brazil. 4:55 p.m. Canada's chief public health officer says four Canadians have recently returned home from trips abroad with the Zika virus. Gregory Taylor said Friday that two people from British Columbia, one from Alberta and another from Quebec contracted the virus abroad. He says two have recovered and didn't give details on the other two. Taylor says there is little to no risk of contracting the virus in Canada since mosquitoes that transmit the virus are not adaptable to the climate. The World Health Organization says Canada and Chile are the only two countries in the Americas where the virus is not likely to spread. ___ 4:10 p.m. Thousands of soldiers, health officials and first responders have been fanning out across the Dominican Republic to fumigate and clean up mosquito-prone areas and educate people about the Zika virus. The campaign aims to tell people about Zika's symptoms, how to avoid it and how to eliminate areas where it breeds. The Caribbean country has reported 10 confirmed cases, none of them involving pregnant women. But the military said this week it will assign 100 doctors to help in detecting and treating cases. Health Minister Altagracia Guzman warned on Friday that half a million people in the Dominican Republic could become infected if no preventive measures are taken. ___ 12:55 p.m. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff says the federal government has launched a nationwide cleanup operation to eliminate breeding areas of the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus, which researchers in have linked to a rare birth defect. Rousseff made her remarks at a Friday press conference after she, five state governors and six cabinet members held a videoconference to discuss strategies to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito. She says the cleanup operation began Friday at all installations run by the armed forces and at all federal educational, health and other facilities. She Brazil will lose the war against the insect unless all of society mobilizes to eliminate the pools of stagnant water that serve as the mosquito's breeding grounds. ___ 12:05 p.m. Nigeria's Health Ministry is warning citizens against traveling to Latin America because of the Zika virus outbreak, and is especially recommending that pregnant women not go there. Health Minister Isaac Folorunso Adewole is urging health professionals at all ports of entry to examine anyone coming from Latin America for signs of the Zika virus. Friday's statement says he's urging Nigerians to tell health workers about any cases of unexplained fevers that last more than 48 hours, especially in those with recent travels to Latin America. While the Zika virus originated in Africa, Adewole says there are no current cases in his country. Officials from Brazil and international health organizations are trying to determine if a widespread outbreak of the virus there is related to a seemingly sudden upswing in cases of birth defects. http://www.waow.com/story/31090178/the-latest-paralyzing-illness-grows-in-colombia-venezuela

AmpliarView of larvae and pupae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads dengue fever, Chikungunya, and most recently the Zika virus, which has infected 255 people in Venzuela with the Guillain-Barre neurologica syndrome. EFE/File Caracas, Jan 29 (EFE).- Venezuelan authorities detected 255 cases of Guillain-Barre neurological syndrome, which has been linked to the Zika virus, Health Minister Luisana Melo said Friday. "As of yesterday we had registered 255 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and 55 of them are in an intensive care unit," she said during an interview on state television. Up to now some 4,500 people are suspected of having been infected with the Zika virus, according to Melo. So far, she said, there have been no reports in Venezuela of Zika-infected pregnant women giving birth to children with abnormally small skulls, a condition known as microcephaly. Melo said the figure of 4,500 is not the total number since, according to authorities' estimates, three out of every four people infected with the virus are asymptomatic and haven't reported the illness, so that the number of cases could be very much greater. The minister reported the design of "a plan with promotion and prevention activities that will be rolled out across the country, and in which all healthcare workers will take part." Some 70,000 liters (18,500 gallons) of insecticide will be used to exterminate mosquitoes "in every corner of national territory" in order to prevent the spread of Zika as well as of degue fever and Chikungunya, three diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. According to the World Health Organization, or WHO, the Zika virus could increase the possibility of microcephalic babies being born, as well as spreading Guillain-Barre syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. The current Zika outbreak in northeastern Brazil has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly. In recent months, the Zika virus has spread with incredible speed from South to North America, and according to estimates of the WHO, could cause between 3 million and 4 million cases of the disease this year.

255 Cases of Zika-linked neurological syndrome in VenezuelaVENEZUELA ZIKA | 29 de Enero de 2016 http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/3592360_255-cases-of-zika-linked-neurological-syndrome-in-venezuela.html

Confirmed Zika Virus Puts Health Officials on AlertPosted: Jan 29, 2016 7:45 PM ESTUpdated: Jan 29, 2016 7:45 PM EST MCALLEN – The first case of the Zika virus was confirmed in Reynosa, Mexico. Officials said they’re taking action after a man was diagnosed. Health officials in the Rio Grande Valley said they continue watching as the virus keeps spreading. Amelia Garcia is a newborn, just 5-months-old. Her mother said she’s the third and last child. Each one is a big responsibility. “Especially when you’re pregnant, you talk to your doctors and take all the precautionary measures that you need to,” Jovana Garcia said. It’s now important for pregnant mothers to be aware of the Zika virus. It’s carried by mosquitoes and linked to cases of brain damage in unborn children. The virus is spreading through Central and South America. On Friday, officials confirmed a man was diagnosed across the border in Reynosa. The man had traveled to Colombia. The McAllen Health Department said they keep track of travelers. “Immigrants or migrants coming through here, or even visitors that are coming ill as well, are reported to the local hospitals, and then reported to the county and then to us,” McAllen Health Department Director Josh Ramirez said. Health officials on both sides of the border don’t think mosquitoes in the Valley carry the virus. McAllen and other municipalities put out traps. They’re looking for any high numbers of Aedis Agypti; the species is known to carry the virus. “If we have one or two or 20, it may not be a concern. If we have a trap with hundreds of mosquitoes it may raise a flag,” Ramirez said. Ramirez said the cold season is keeping numbers low. The staff continues to collect and test the mosquitoes, the results keep coming back negative. The Reynosa Health Department said it took action with the infected man. They went into the man’s house to fumigate and kill any mosquitoes. Health officials said they still don’t know for certain where the man was bitten by the infected mosquito. The number of Zika virus cases has jumped all across the United States. The CDC said there are now 32 cases across a dozen states and the District of Colombia. The virus isn’t spreading locally in the U.S. It’s coming into this country through travelers. http://www.krgv.com/story/31095190/confirmed-zika-virus-puts-health-officials-on-alert

Zika virus diagnosed in ReynosaStoryCommentsPrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font size MGN Online Buy this photo Posted: Friday, January 29, 2016 9:25 pm By KRISTIAN HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER The first case of the Zika virus has been confirmed in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, just a few miles south of the Texas-Mexico border. The Reynosa man traveled to Colombia to visit family over the holidays and contracted the virus, according to officials with the Mexican Health Department. This is one of 15 cases confirmed across Mexico and one of three that were imported to the neighboring country. Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Director Eddie Olivarez said he has been aware of reports concerning the Zika virus south of the border since August of last year and is monitoring the situation along with the Texas Department of State Health Services. “Zika has not been determined to be here at all. In fact, it has not been determined to be native to the northern states of Mexico either,” Olivarez said. “We know of cases in the Houston areas that are travelers and some in Chiapas and deep in South Mexico and Central America from homegrown mosquitoes.” Earlier this month, the Pan American Health Organization reported 18 countries with confirmed home-grown circulation of Zika virus since 2015: Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, French Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Suriname and Venezuela. The United States has not been added because the few cases reported in places such as Los Angeles, Minnesota and Texas involve travelers who contracted the virus outside of the country, Olivarez said. The first case of the virus in Texas was reported on Jan. 13, in Harris County. Reports state that a middle-aged woman who had traveled to El Salvador was diagnosed with Zika virus after she developed a rash, fever and joint pain. There have been three reported deaths of the Zika virus in Brazil, which has been at the center of the surge since health ministry officials in that country reported an association between microcephaly and Zika virus infection in pregnant women, according to the Mexican health department. Microcephaly is a neurological disorder in which the circumference of a baby’s head is less than average. Brazil’s health ministry reported a surge of reported microcephaly cases, reaching nearly 4,000 between 2015 and 2016 compared to 150 in 2014, according to the Mexican health department. International health officials are warning the Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas and the number of cases could reach up to 4 million over the next year, according to a Thursday report from the Associated Press from Geneva. President Barack Obama met with U.S. health and national security leaders Tuesday to discuss the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses in the Americas as well as steps being taken to protect the American public, according to a news release. “The President emphasized the need to accelerate research efforts to make available better diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves from infection,” the release states. Zika is not a new virus; it was first isolated in a monkey in the Zika forest in Entebbe, Uganda, Africa in 1968. Since then, outbreaks have been reported mostly in tropical Africa and parts of Southeast Asia, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis or red eyes. The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, according to the CDC. “About 80 percent of people who have Zika will never show symptoms,” Olivarez said. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus. The virus is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same transmitter of Dengue and Chikungunya. There is still no indication that the virus can be passed from human to human outside a mother’s womb, despite one case of it possibly being transmitted through sexual intercourse. During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be passed from an infected person to an uninfected mosquito through mosquito bites, according to the CDC. “That is how Dengue spreads,” Olivarez said. “Dengue can pass from human to human via mosquito and they are studying that with Zika.” Dengue fever and the Aedes mosquito are common in the Rio Grande Valley area, Olivarez said. In Tamaulipas, health officials launched a statewide initiative to combat the mosquitoes that spread these viruses, according to a Monday news release. “When you go out there and fumigate and larvacide against Dengue, against West Nile against Chikungunya, you are doing it for Zika too,” Olivarez said. “There is no magic way to deal with Zika. It’s the same way we’ve already been dealing with this.” Olivarez said his office will continue monitoring while applying the usual methods of fumigation throughout the county and encourage people to keep their lawns clean and to get rid of standing water in their yards as part of their campaign to combat mosquito populations. Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism — over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year, according to the American Mosquito Control Association, founded in 1935. For more information about Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, visit the AMCA site atwww.mosquito.org. http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/article_379e98e6-c701-11e5-8dfa-232d572fe71c.html

The four confirmed cases in Canada are in British Columbia (2), Alberta, and Quebec.

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Canadian Zika presser at 1:00 PM January 29.