niman Posted July 27, 2016 Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 (edited) Florida press release cites two more likely mosquito transmissions in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Edited July 27, 2016 by niman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 The department is expanding its ongoing investigations with two additional possible non-travel related Zika virus cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response.The investigations into the new cases will begin today and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases. The department will share more details as they become available. Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/07/072716-zika-update.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 2 More Possible Non-Travel-Related Cases Of Zika Investigated In South FloridaBy JULIO OCHOA • 7 MINUTES AGOSHARETwitter Facebook Google+ Email Two more possible non-travel-related cases of Zika virus are being investigated in South Florida, the Florida Department of Health confirmed Wednesday.The new cases are in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the same areas where health officials began investigating two similar cases last week.The health department began going door-to-door in the area where the cases were found to determine if anyone else is infected. Officials are also collecting mosquitoes in the area for testing.Zika prevention kits are being given out at OBGYN offices and at local health department offices in Broward and Miami.The health department began investigating what could be the first case of non-travel-related Zika on July 19 in Miami-Dade County.Two days later, it began investigating a second case in Broward County.There has been no confirmation whether those cases were actually the first cases of the virus transmitted by mosquitoes in the United States.However, travel was ruled out as a possible source, Florida Surgeon General Celeste Philip said Tuesday, according to the Miami Herald.The health department announced 17 new travel-related cases of Zika on Wednesday: three in Palm Beach, two in Brevard, two in Broward, two in Orange, one in Escambia, one in Osceola, one in Polk and one in Seminole. Four of those cases involve pregnant women.There have now been more than 380 confirmed cases of Zika virus in Florida. http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/2-more-possible-non-travel-related-cases-zika-investigated-south-florida?utm_content=bufferd78c0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#stream/0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 4 Non-Travel Related Florida Zika Virus Cases Under ReviewA total of 381 travel-related Zika virus cases have been confirmed in Florida. Four non-travel-related cases are now under investigation.By Sherri Lonon (Patch Staff) - July 27, 2016 3:36 pm ET ShareTweetGoogle PlusRedditEmailComments0 TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida’s confirmed tally of travel-related Zika virus cases climbed to 381 on Wednesday with the announcement of 17 new patients statewide. The Florida Department of Health also announced it is now investigating four cases that may have been contracted within the state.Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.Wednesday’s new confirmed travel-related cases come from counties scattered across the state. The tally includes three new cases in Palm Beach County, two in Brevard, two in Broward, two in Orange and one each in Polk, Escambia, Osceola and Seminole counties. Four new cases involving pregnant women were also reported by the state. Travel-related cases involve patients who contracted the virus while traveling outside of the state. All told, the state has confirmed 381 travel-related cases, including 53 involving pregnant women.FDOH confirmed earlier this month it was investigating two possible non-travel- related cases. That number climbed to four on Wednesday. Two of the cases involve residents in Miami-Dade County, and two are in Broward County.“The investigations into the new cases will begin today and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases,” the state wrote in an email to media Wednesday. “The department will share more details as they become available. Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.”The CDC has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.“Babies with the defect often have a range of problems including developmental delay, intellectual disability, problems with movement and balance, hearing loss and vision problems,” the FDOH said in an email to media.http://patch.com/florida/bloomingdale/s/fu37w/4-non-travel-related-florida-zika-virus-cases-under-review?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=health+%26+fitness&utm_campaign=recirc&utm_content=aol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida’s confirmed tally of travel-related Zika virus cases climbed to 381 on Wednesday with the announcement of 17 new patients statewide. The Florida Department of Health also announced it is now investigating four cases that may have been contracted within the state.Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.Wednesday’s new confirmed travel-related cases come from counties scattered across the state. The tally includes three new cases in Palm Beach County, two in Brevard, two in Broward, two in Orange and one each in Polk, Escambia, Osceola and Seminole counties. Four new cases involving pregnant women were also reported by the state. Travel-related cases involve patients who contracted the virus while traveling outside of the state. All told, the state has confirmed 381 travel-related cases, including 53 involving pregnant women.FDOH confirmed earlier this month it was investigating two possible non-travel- related cases. That number climbed to four on Wednesday. Two of the cases involve residents in Miami-Dade County, and two are in Broward County.“The investigations into the new cases will begin today and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases,” the state wrote in an email to media Wednesday. “The department will share more details as they become available. Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.”The CDC has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.“Babies with the defect often have a range of problems including developmental delay, intellectual disability, problems with movement and balance, hearing loss and vision problems,” the FDOH said in an email to media.http://patch.com/florida/bloomingdale/s/fu37w/4-non-travel-related-florida-zika-virus-cases-under-review?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=health+%26+fitness&utm_campaign=recirc&utm_content=aol
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Map Updatehttps://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 New Zika cases suggest Florida may be seeing viral outbreakRICARDO MAZALAN/APBy ANDREW JOSEPH @DrewQJosephJULY 27, 2016 TwitterFacebookLinkedInEmailRepublishPrint The primary drivers of the virus worldwide are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and Florida has been considered among the places most at risk of Zika outbreaks in the United States. It’s one of the few places in the United States that has seen local spread of related mosquito-borne viruses in the past, such as dengue and chikungunya.Florida has seen more than 380 cumulative travel-related cases of Zika, including 53 in pregnant women.Officials have not released much information about the new cases, only describing them as “possible non-travel related.” They have also not ruled out sexual transmission.In a statement Wednesday, the officials said the pattern of the new cases “is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations,” including adengue outbreak in 2013.All four cases are in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which are adjacent. Those two counties have seen the most travel-related Zika cases of any Florida counties.The state’s investigation, with which federal health officials are assisting, includes testing other residents near where the patients live and trapping and testing mosquitoes in that area. Officials have not found any Zika-positive mosquitoes since they started their investigation, but experts say that depending on the number of infected mosquitoes, that could be like finding a needle in a haystack.“Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation,” Florida officials said in the statement Wednesday. “These results will help the department determine the number of people infected.”Zika generally only causes a mild illness, but it can cause serious defects in fetuses when it infects pregnant women.It’s not clear if the Florida cases — if they do in fact stem from local mosquitoes — are connected. The primary driver of the virus, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, only flies a few hundred yards in its lifespan.Local transmission could occur when someone who is infected while traveling returns home and is bitten by a local mosquito. If that mosquito becomes infectious itself, it can then infect other people it bites.Experts do not expect a wide outbreak of Zika in continental United States. Residents are not as exposed to mosquitoes thanks to the use of air conditioning and screens on windows, and cities are not as densely packed as they are in places in Latin America and the Caribbean where Zika has spread widely.https://www.statnews.com/2016/07/27/florida-zika-cases-outbreak/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The primary drivers of the virus worldwide are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and Florida has been considered among the places most at risk of Zika outbreaks in the United States. It’s one of the few places in the United States that has seen local spread of related mosquito-borne viruses in the past, such as dengue and chikungunya.Florida has seen more than 380 cumulative travel-related cases of Zika, including 53 in pregnant women.Officials have not released much information about the new cases, only describing them as “possible non-travel related.” They have also not ruled out sexual transmission.In a statement Wednesday, the officials said the pattern of the new cases “is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations,” including adengue outbreak in 2013.All four cases are in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which are adjacent. Those two counties have seen the most travel-related Zika cases of any Florida counties.The state’s investigation, with which federal health officials are assisting, includes testing other residents near where the patients live and trapping and testing mosquitoes in that area. Officials have not found any Zika-positive mosquitoes since they started their investigation, but experts say that depending on the number of infected mosquitoes, that could be like finding a needle in a haystack.“Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation,” Florida officials said in the statement Wednesday. “These results will help the department determine the number of people infected.”Zika generally only causes a mild illness, but it can cause serious defects in fetuses when it infects pregnant women.It’s not clear if the Florida cases — if they do in fact stem from local mosquitoes — are connected. The primary driver of the virus, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, only flies a few hundred yards in its lifespan.Local transmission could occur when someone who is infected while traveling returns home and is bitten by a local mosquito. If that mosquito becomes infectious itself, it can then infect other people it bites.Experts do not expect a wide outbreak of Zika in continental United States. Residents are not as exposed to mosquitoes thanks to the use of air conditioning and screens on windows, and cities are not as densely packed as they are in places in Latin America and the Caribbean where Zika has spread widely.https://www.statnews.com/2016/07/27/florida-zika-cases-outbreak/
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Florida probes four suspected non-travel cases of ZikaJuly 27, 2016Florida is investigating two new cases of Zika virus that may not involve people infected while traveling outside the United States, bringing the state's total number of such cases to four, officials said Wednesday.If any of the cases are confirmed, it would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the continental United States.Zika is spread via mosquitoes and by sexual contact. Ifpregnant women are infected they face a higher risk of bearing an infant with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head."The department is expanding its ongoing investigations with two additional possible non-travel-related Zika virus cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties," the Florida Department of Health said in a statement."The investigations into the new cases will begin today, and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases," it added.The department urged residents and visitors to participate if asked for urine samples in the areas being investigated. The results would help determine the number of people affected.Last week, Florida reported its first two cases of Zika virus in people who did not immediately appear to have any travel-related exposure—one in Miami-Dade County and one just to the north, in Broward County.Those investigations are still ongoing, a spokeswoman told AFP.The state has already seen 381 cases of Zika, all involving people who were infected while traveling to parts of the world where the virus is circulating.For Zika to become a homegrown virus in the mainland United States, a mosquito would have to bite a Zika-infected person and then bite another person, passing on the virus.Health officials have warned of possible localized Zika outbreaks in the United States, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in the past two years.However, mosquito control measures such as air conditioning, use of window and door screens and bug repellant are likely to prevent Zika from becoming established in the United States.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-07-florida-probes-non-travel-cases-zika.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida is investigating two new cases of Zika virus that may not involve people infected while traveling outside the United States, bringing the state's total number of such cases to four, officials said Wednesday.If any of the cases are confirmed, it would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the continental United States.Zika is spread via mosquitoes and by sexual contact. Ifpregnant women are infected they face a higher risk of bearing an infant with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head."The department is expanding its ongoing investigations with two additional possible non-travel-related Zika virus cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties," the Florida Department of Health said in a statement."The investigations into the new cases will begin today, and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases," it added.The department urged residents and visitors to participate if asked for urine samples in the areas being investigated. The results would help determine the number of people affected.Last week, Florida reported its first two cases of Zika virus in people who did not immediately appear to have any travel-related exposure—one in Miami-Dade County and one just to the north, in Broward County.Those investigations are still ongoing, a spokeswoman told AFP.The state has already seen 381 cases of Zika, all involving people who were infected while traveling to parts of the world where the virus is circulating.For Zika to become a homegrown virus in the mainland United States, a mosquito would have to bite a Zika-infected person and then bite another person, passing on the virus.Health officials have warned of possible localized Zika outbreaks in the United States, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in the past two years.However, mosquito control measures such as air conditioning, use of window and door screens and bug repellant are likely to prevent Zika from becoming established in the United States.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-07-florida-probes-non-travel-cases-zika.html
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Florida probes four suspected non-travel cases of ZikaBy AFP | 27 July 2016 | 8:19 pm PHOTO:AFPFlorida is investigating two new cases of Zika virus that may not involve people infected while traveling outside the United States, bringing the state’s total number of such cases to four, officials said Wednesday.If any of the cases are confirmed, it would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the continental United States.Zika is spread via mosquitoes and by sexual contact. If pregnant women are infected they face a higher risk of bearing an infant with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head. “The department is expanding its ongoing investigations with two additional possible non-travel-related Zika virus cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties,” the Florida Department of Health said in a statement. “The investigations into the new cases will begin today, and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases,” it added.The department urged residents and visitors to participate if asked for urine samples in the areas being investigated. The results would help determine the number of people affected.Last week, Florida reported its first two cases of Zika virus in people who did not immediately appear to have any travel-related exposure — one in Miami-Dade County and one just to the north, in Broward County.Those investigations are still ongoing, a spokeswoman told AFP.The state has already seen 381 cases of Zika, all involving people who were infected while traveling to parts of the world where the virus is circulating.For Zika to become a homegrown virus in the mainland United States, a mosquito would have to bite a Zika-infected person and then bite another person, passing on the virus.Health officials have warned of possible localized Zika outbreaks in the United States, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in the past two years.However, mosquito control measures such as air conditioning, use of window and door screens and bug repellant are likely to prevent Zika from becoming established in the United States.http://guardian.ng/news/florida-probes-four-suspected-non-travel-cases-of-zika/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHOTO:AFPFlorida is investigating two new cases of Zika virus that may not involve people infected while traveling outside the United States, bringing the state’s total number of such cases to four, officials said Wednesday.If any of the cases are confirmed, it would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the continental United States.Zika is spread via mosquitoes and by sexual contact. If pregnant women are infected they face a higher risk of bearing an infant with microcephaly, a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head. “The department is expanding its ongoing investigations with two additional possible non-travel-related Zika virus cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties,” the Florida Department of Health said in a statement. “The investigations into the new cases will begin today, and door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases,” it added.The department urged residents and visitors to participate if asked for urine samples in the areas being investigated. The results would help determine the number of people affected.Last week, Florida reported its first two cases of Zika virus in people who did not immediately appear to have any travel-related exposure — one in Miami-Dade County and one just to the north, in Broward County.Those investigations are still ongoing, a spokeswoman told AFP.The state has already seen 381 cases of Zika, all involving people who were infected while traveling to parts of the world where the virus is circulating.For Zika to become a homegrown virus in the mainland United States, a mosquito would have to bite a Zika-infected person and then bite another person, passing on the virus.Health officials have warned of possible localized Zika outbreaks in the United States, particularly since the virus has spread quickly throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in the past two years.However, mosquito control measures such as air conditioning, use of window and door screens and bug repellant are likely to prevent Zika from becoming established in the United States.http://guardian.ng/news/florida-probes-four-suspected-non-travel-cases-of-zika/
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 2 more mysterious Zika infections reported in South FloridaPublished July 27, 2016 Associated PressFacebook0 Twitter0 livefyre Email Print FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016 file photo, a researcher holds a container with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America is giving a boost to a British biotech firms proposal to try reducing the threat by deploying a genetically modified version of the mosquito that transmits the disease. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)NEW YORK – Florida health officials are investigating two more mysterious cases of Zika infection that do not appear to be related to travel, bringing the total to four.The cases have raised the possibility that mosquitoes in the U.S. have begun to spread the virus, although officials say they are still looking into the cases and have not come to a conclusion.More on this...Up to 1.65M women of childbearing age at risk for ZikaDoctors urged to check pregnant women for Zika at each visitFlorida tests more than 200 residents in Zika probeThe four cases are in neighboring Miami-Dade and Broward counties.The virus is mainly spread by mosquitoes, as well as sex. So far, the 1,400 infections reported in the U.S. have been linked to travel to countries with Zika outbreaks in Latin America or the Caribbean.Zika causes only a mild illness in most people. But scientists recently confirmed that infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/27/2-more-mysterious-zika-infections-reported-in-south-florida.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Florida identifies two more Zika cases not related to travel July 27, 2016By Julie SteenhuysenCHICAGO, July 27 (Reuters) - The Florida health department said on Wednesday it is investigating another two cases of Zika not related to travel to a place where the virus is being transmitted, raising the possibility of local Zika transmission in the continental United States.The health department said it has identified an additional case of Zika in Miami-Dade County, where it was already investigating a possible case of Zika not related to travel, and another case in Broward County, where it has been investigating a non-travel related case."This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response," health officials said in a statement.(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bernard Orr)http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/27/2-more-mysterious-zika-infections-reported-in-south-florida.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By Julie SteenhuysenCHICAGO, July 27 (Reuters) - The Florida health department said on Wednesday it is investigating another two cases of Zika not related to travel to a place where the virus is being transmitted, raising the possibility of local Zika transmission in the continental United States.The health department said it has identified an additional case of Zika in Miami-Dade County, where it was already investigating a possible case of Zika not related to travel, and another case in Broward County, where it has been investigating a non-travel related case."This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response," health officials said in a statement.(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bernard Orr)http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/27/2-more-mysterious-zika-infections-reported-in-south-florida.html
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Wed Jul 27, 2016 5:07pm EDTRelated: U.S., HEALTHFlorida identifies two more Zika cases not related to travelCHICAGO | BY JULIE STEENHUYSEN An anti Zika virus kit, including a bug net, mosquito repellent, condoms, literature and anti mosquito dunks, is pictured in this April 29, 2016 photo illustration.REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI//ILLUSTRATION/FILE PHOTO The Florida health department said on Wednesday it is investigating another two cases of Zika not related to travel to a place where the virus is being transmitted, raising the possibility of local Zika transmission in the continental United States.The health department said it has identified an additional case of Zika in Miami-Dade County, where it was already investigating a possible case of Zika not related to travel, and another case in Broward County, where it has been investigating a non-travel related case."This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such as the 2013 dengue response," health officials said in a statement.To confirm whether Zika is being transmitted locally, epidemiologists must survey households and neighbors within a 150-yard radius around the residence of the person who has Zika, which constitutes the flying range of the mosquitoes that carry the virus.According to the U.S. Zika response plan, Zika transmission is defined as two or more cases not due to travel or sex with an infected person that occur in a 1 mile diameter over the course of a month.Florida heath department officials said investigations into the new cases begins today. The state is urging residents and visitors to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.In addition to the possible cases of non-travel related transmission, Florida on Wednesday reported 328 travel-related cases of Zika. The state is monitoring 53 pregnant women who had Zika infections. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bernard Orr)http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-florida-idUSKCN1072MK?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+(Reuters+Health+News) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Florida Health Dept.: 2 New Possible Locally Acquired Zika CasesJuly 27, 2016 5:19 PMFiled Under: Babies, Health, Women, Zika An Aedes Aegypti mosquito is photographed on human skin in a lab of the International Training and Medical Research Training Center (CIDEIM) on January 25, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images) 11Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Florida health officials say there are two more Zika cases that do not appear to be related to travel.On Wednesday, they said they were trying to find out how the newly reported cases got the virus.The cases raise the possibility that mosquitoes in Broward and Miami-Dade County are spreading the virus -although health officials have yet to reach a conclusion.Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting YourselfThe state health department says Miami-Dade and Broward, as of Wednesday, have four possible cases of non-travel related Zika.This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuedupdated recommendations on how to prevent the spread of the virus which has been linked to birth defects in babies. Health experts say it can spread through sexual contact or infected mosquitoes.Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/07/27/florida-health-dept-2-new-possible-locally-acquired-zika-cases/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Florida health officials say there are two more Zika cases that do not appear to be related to travel.On Wednesday, they said they were trying to find out how the newly reported cases got the virus.The cases raise the possibility that mosquitoes in Broward and Miami-Dade County are spreading the virus -although health officials have yet to reach a conclusion.Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting YourselfThe state health department says Miami-Dade and Broward, as of Wednesday, have four possible cases of non-travel related Zika.This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuedupdated recommendations on how to prevent the spread of the virus which has been linked to birth defects in babies. Health experts say it can spread through sexual contact or infected mosquitoes.Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/07/27/florida-health-dept-2-new-possible-locally-acquired-zika-cases/
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Florida officials investigating 4 possible non-travel-related Zika casesBy Debra Goldschmidt, CNN Updated 7:08 PM ET, Wed July 27, 2016 Everything you need to know about Zika 01:42Story highlightsNone of the four individuals has traveled to Zika-affected areasInvestigators are asking residents for urine samples in an effort to find more Zika cases (CNN)Health officials in Florida are now investigating four possible non-travel-related cases of Zika virus, the state Department of Health said Wednesday.Two of the four cases are in Miami-Dade County while the other two are in Broward County. None of the four individuals has traveled to Zika-affected areas. Sexual transmission has not been ruled out. First case of female-to-male Zika transmission"We are looking into other modes of transmission. We're conducting this investigation as we would other mosquito-borne viruses, such as dengue (fever)," Mara Gambineri, communications director for the Florida Department of Health, wrote in an email to CNN.Two of the four cases had been announced last week (one each in Miami-Dade and Broward counties).Officials are going door-to-door asking residents to provide urine samples and other information in an effort to determine how many people may be infected with the virus. It is possible that someone could unknowingly be infected since 80% of those infected have no symptoms.If any of these four cases is determined to be an infection transmitted by local mosquitoes, it would signify the first local mosquito transmission of Zika in the continental United States. Federal health officials have said local transmission should be expected, although they don't anticipate that it will be widespread. Zika virus: The latest you need to know"Evidence is mounting to suggest local transmission via mosquitos is going on in South Florida," Tom Skinner, senior press officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wrote in an email. "These cases fit similar transmission patterns (of) mosquito borne diseases like chikungunya that we've seen in South Florida in years past."The CDC is assisting state and local health officials with the investigation in Florida.Join the conversationSee the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook andTwitter.To date, there are 381 cases of the virus in Florida; 53 of them are pregnant women.As of July 20, the CDC reported 1,404 cases of the virus in the continental United States and Hawaii. None of those cases is a result of local mosquito transmission. Fifteen of those individuals were infected by sexual transmission, and there is one case of a laboratory-acquired infection. (The CDC updates its numbers weekly on Thursday.)http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/27/health/florida-zika-cases/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Florida identifies two more Zika cases not related to travel05Thursday 28 July 2016 00.02Evidence of the virus in local mosquito populations can also be used to confirm local transmissionThe Florida health department said it is investigating another two cases of Zika not related to travel to a place where the virus is being transmitted, raising the possibility of local Zika transmission in the continental United States.The Florida health department said it has identified an additional case of Zika in Miami-Dade County, where it was already investigating a possible case of Zika not related to travel, and another case in Broward County, where it has been investigating a non-travel related case."Evidence is mounting to suggest local transmission via mosquitoes is going on in South Florida," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said."These cases fit similar transmission patterns for mosquito-borne diseases such as Chikungunya that we've seen in South Florida in years past."To confirm whether Zika is being transmitted locally, epidemiologists must survey households and neighbours within a 150-yard radius around the residence of the person who has Zika, which constitutes the flying range of the mosquitoes that carry the virus.According to the US Zika response plan, Zika transmission is defined as two or more cases not due to travel or sex with an infected person that occur in a one-mile diameter over the course of a month.Evidence of the virus in local mosquito populations can also be used to confirm local transmission.Florida heath department officials said investigations intothe new cases begins today. The state is urging residents andvisitors to participate in requests for urine samples by thedepartment in the areas of investigation. These results willhelp the department determine the number of people affected. In addition to the possible cases of non-travel related transmission, Florida today reported 328 travel-related cases of Zika.The state is monitoring 53 pregnant women who had Zika infections.http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0727/805326-zika-virus/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 JULY 27, 2016 6:07 PMSouth Florida may have two more cases of locally acquired Zika virus This Jan. 27 photo shows samples of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, responsible for transmitting Zika. Felipe Dana APBY DANIEL CHANG[email protected] LINKEDINGOOGLE+PINTERESTREDDITPRINTORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY Florida health officials on Wednesday reported an additional two Zika infections that may have been spread by local mosquitoes while the number of travel-related cases rose by 17 — for a total of 381 people statewide who have contracted the virus this year.The additional cases of suspected local transmission were reported in Miami-Dade and Broward, the same South Florida counties under investigation since last week for two other cases that may be the first mosquito-borne Zika infections in the continental United States. Interactive feature: Daily Florida Zika virus trackerFlorida has now reported — but not confirmed — four cases of Zika that may have been spread by local mosquitoes. The state has the second highest number ofZika infections in the country, behind New York, including at least 53 pregnant women, who are considered to be at greatest risk from the virus because it can cause microcephaly and other birth defects.Among the 17 new Zika infections reported in Florida on Wednesday — a new record for most cases in a single day — four involved pregnant women.Health department officials said this week that they have contacted obstetricians in the Miami-Dade and Broward neighborhoods where they are investigating the suspected local cases and advising them to test their pregnant patients for Zika. Health officials also distributed Zika prevention kits containing insect repellant, bed netting, chemical tablets to kill mosquito larvae and other materials in the suspected neighborhoods.The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is assisting in Florida’s investigation of the suspected local cases, identifying places where those infected may have come into contact with others, interviewing residents and collecting urine samples for testing.Health officials also are coordinating with Miami-Dade mosquito control, which sends workers to inspect the homes and nearby residences of people infected with Zika virus. Workers also conduct spraying and trap mosquitoes to be tested for Zika virus.To date, Miami-Dade and Broward have not reported any local mosquitoes testing positive for the virus.For questions about Zika, including health impacts, call the Florida health department hotline at 855-622-6735.Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article92209207.html#storylink=cpyhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article92209207.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Florida expands probe of potential local casesIn its daily Zika update, meanwhile, Florida Health said it is expanding its investigation to include the two more possible locally acquired cases, which are from Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The two locations are also the sites of the two suspected local cases reported last week.Officials said a probe of the new cases began today with door-to-door outreach and sample collection, and they urged residents and visitors to participate in requests for urine samples needed to help gauge the number of people affected.The pattern with the suspected local cases is consistent with that seen with past mosquito-borne illnesses, such as a 2013 dengue outbreak, Florida Health said.Also today, officials reported 17 new travel-related cases, raising the total to 328. It noted 4 more Zika illnesses in pregnant women, lifting the state's total to 53.http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/07/study-notes-promising-zika-antibodies-florida-suspects-more-local-cases Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 The department continues its investigations into four possible non-travel related Zika virus cases, with two in Miami-Dade and two Broward counties. Door-to-door outreach and sample collection are ongoing in all cases. The department will share more details as they become available. Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine samples by the department in the areas of investigation. These results will help the department determine the number of people affected.http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2016/07/072816-zika-update.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted July 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Florida investigates 2 more suspected local Zika cases Liz Szabo, USA TODAY3:38 p.m. EDT July 28, 2016 0:31 1:34 Fla. Official: Possible Local Zika Transmission Mosquito control officials in Miami brace for the first locally aquired Zika virus transmitted by mosquito. APFlorida health officials are going door to door to investigate two more Zika infections that may have been spread by local mosquitoes, bringing the total number of suspected local cases to four.Although officials haven't yet confirmed how the infections were contracted, the spread of Zika among native mosquitoes would be a major change in the course of the disease in the continental U.S., where all cases until now have been linked to travel to Zika-affected regions.The four Florida cases under investigation are in Broward or Miami-Dade counties, according to the state health department.Because of the risk of a local Zika outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration has asked all blood donation centers in Miami-Dade, Broward and surrounding areas to stop accepting blood donations until the blood can be tested for the virus.Blood collection centers across the country also shouldn't accept any blood donations from people who have traveled to Miami-Dade and Broward counties within the past four weeks, the FDA added.There's no need to avoid traveling to south Florida, said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.That would change if Florida experiences a major Zika epidemic. A plan developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas with "widespread, local and continuous transmission" of Zika.About 1,660 people in the continental U.S. have been diagnosed with Zika after traveling or, in 15 cases, having sex with a traveler, according to the CDC. Both men and women can spread the virus sexually, although the vast majority of infections are caused by mosquito bites.Zika, which can cause devastating birth defects, is spreading much more widely inU.S. territories, with nearly 4,700 cases in Puerto Rico alone. More than 430 pregnant women in the continental U.S. have been diagnosed with Zika, along with 422 in the territories.The actual number of infections could be much higher, said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Only one in five people with Zika develop symptoms, which include rash, fever, muscle aches and headaches, according to the CDC. So most people with the infection don't know it.Public health departments don't have the money or staff to test everyone for Zika, so many cases are never detected, Hotez said."Remember for every imported case being reported, there are dozens of others not being reported," Hotez said. "The numbers, I believe, are highly unreliable due to under reporting and under testing."Florida public health staff will collect urine samples from residents to test for the virus as a way to gauge how many people are infected. Health officials also are giving out Zika prevention kits and mosquito repellent.Health officials have warned the virus is likely to spread to the continental U.S., although they've said any outbreaks are likely to be relatively small, given Americans' widespread use of air conditioning and window screens.Even without official confirmation of local Zika spread, "we're treating it as if it's real," said Karen Harris, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Gainesville, Fla., and spokeswoman for the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "That's the safest thing we can do for our patients."Harris and her colleagues posted information about Zika in every exam room at their office. They're also advising pregnant women to use condoms for the duration of their pregnancies in order to prevent Zika infections."We're telling all of our pregnant patients not to leave the house without mosquito repellent," Harris said.Communities in Florida and Texas have been able to control recent outbreaks of dengue, another mosquito-borne tropical disease, by aggressively killing mosquitoes and removing the standing water where they breed, said Amesh Adalja, a senior associate at the Center for Health Security at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.If the four Florida cases were spread by local mosquitoes, Adalja said it would "raise the stakes for pregnant women in Florida, who will have to be meticulous in their avoidance of mosquitoes."Although most Zika infections are mild, the disease can cause miscarriages and catastrophic brain damage in fetuses, according to the CDC. Thirteen American women have had babies with Zika-related birth defects. Seven other women have miscarried or terminated pregnancies because of Zika, including one in Puerto Rico.Because there are no vaccines or treatments for Zika, the CDC cautions people to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long pants and insect repellent when outside, and by emptying standing water around their homes. The agency also warned pregnant women to avoid to areas with Zika outbreaks.Hotez said he wonders why Florida officials are taking so long to confirm whether Zika is spreading locally, given that the first suspected case in a non-traveler was announced a week ago. "The investigation should be very straightforward," he said.The process would including interviewing the four infected people and asking whether they'd traveled to a Zika-infected area in the past month or had sex with someone who traveled to such a region in the past one or two months, Hotez added. "This is not difficult," he said.http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/07/28/florida-investigates-two-more-zika-cases-people-who-havent-traveled/87655028/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted August 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2016 Investigators were led to Wynwood, a neighborhood full of hip restaurants and art galleries but also vacant storefronts and residential blocks, by two other cases: infected men who work in businesses about 400 feet from each other there, according to the report. One, a man in his late 20s known as Broward #2, has a job at a business that does work in Brazil and has several employees who travel there frequently, according to the report. The report didn’t name the business or say what kind of work it does. The patient recently had a houseguest from Brazil, where an explosive epidemic last year led to nearly 166,000 suspected infections and has been tied to birth defects in hundreds of newborns. Fourteen of the roughly 30 employees who work at the business in Wynwood reported they had typical Zika symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis from early June to mid-July, according to the report. The other infected man, a 26-year-old known as Miami-Dade #2, works at a business nearby with 11 employees. He and a customer were the only ones to report Zika symptoms, according to the report. http://www.wsj.com/articles/pregnant-zika-victim-alerted-officials-to-florida-outbreak-1470821406 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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