niman Posted November 28, 2016 Report Posted November 28, 2016 The Texas Department of State Health Services and Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first case of Zika virus disease likely transmitted by a mosquito in Texas. DSHS is supporting Cameron County’s response to the case and to the ongoing risk of Zika in the community. The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors. Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient’s urine, but a blood test was negative, http://dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2016/20161128.aspx
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 Texas Announces Local Zika Virus Case in Rio Grande Valley News Release November 28, 2016 Response Underway; Will Include Increased Surveillance The Texas Department of State Health Services and Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first case of Zika virus disease likely transmitted by a mosquito in Texas. DSHS is supporting Cameron County’s response to the case and to the ongoing risk of Zika in the community. The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors. Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient’s urine, but a blood test was negative, indicating that the virus can no longer be spread from her by a mosquito. There are no other cases of suspected local transmission at this time, but health officials continue to conduct disease surveillance activities as part of the state's ongoing Zika response. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” Cameron County, DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to investigate and respond to the case. Further investigation will be necessary to attempt to pinpoint how and where the infection occurred, and health officials are also responding in a number of other ways. DSHS has activated the State Medical Operations Center to support the response and is providing expertise, personnel and equipment for activities from disease investigation to mosquito surveillance to public education. With DSHS support, Cameron County and the City of Brownsville have conducted an environmental assessment at the patient’s home and have been trapping and testing mosquitoes to learn more about activity in the area. Brownsville has recently sprayed for mosquitoes in the area and will continue to take action to reduce the mosquito population. Health workers from Cameron County and DSHS will be going door to door in the area around where the case lived beginning this evening to educate the public about Zika, help people reduce potential mosquito breeding habitat on their property, and collect voluntary urine samples to determine whether other infections are present. The samples collected will be tested at the DSHS laboratory in Austin. The DSHS regional office in Harlingen has delivered laboratory supplies, boxes of educational materials and mosquito traps to Cameron County and will continue to assist in the response. Additionally, state and local public health has been in communication with CDC, which is providing additional assistance and expertise. Travel back-and-forth across the border is a way of life in the Valley, and news reports from Mexico indicate Zika transmission by mosquitoes in multiple communities on the Mexican side of the border. Due to the risk of birth defects associated with Zika, pregnant women should avoid traveling to Mexico and should avoid sexual contact or use condoms with partners who have traveled there. Other precautions include: Using EPA-approved insect repellent. Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts that cover exposed skin. Using air conditioning or window and door screens that are in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of homes. Removing standing water in and around homes, including water in trash cans, toys, tires, flower pots and any other container that can hold water. Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, though sexual transmission can occur. The four most common symptoms are fever, itchy rash, joint pain and eye redness. While symptoms are usually minor, Zika can also cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly, and other poor birth outcomes in some women infected during pregnancy. DSHS is again asking health care providers to consider Zika virus infection in their patients and order the appropriate testing. DSHS recommends testing all pregnant women who have traveled to areas with active Zika transmission during their pregnancy. DSHS also recommends testing pregnant women who have two or more of the typical Zika symptoms in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Webb, Willacy or Zapata counties without travel history, and anyone with at least three symptoms statewide. Providers can find additional information at www.texaszika.org/healthcareprof.htm. Through last week, Texas has had 257 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease. Until now, all cases had been associated with travel, including two infants born to women who had traveled during their pregnancy and two people who had sexual contact with infected travelers. Additional information on cases and for the public is available at www.texaszika.org. -30- (News Media Contact: Chris Van Deusen, DSHS Press Officer, 512-776-7753) DSHS Press Office on Twitter Last updatedNovember 28, 2016
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 Texas confirms its first case of local Zika transmission By ANDREW JOSEPH @DrewQJoseph NOVEMBER 28, 2016 Health officials in Texas said Monday a woman had been infected with Zika after being bitten by a mosquito there, making Texas the second state to have documented local transmission of the virus. The woman lives in Cameron County, which sits along the Mexican border and on the Gulf Coast. The mosquitoes that are the main drivers of the virus thrive in hot, humid climates, and experts had identified South Texas as one of the most likely locations to see the virus spread by local mosquitoes. The infection was confirmed by lab tests, Texas officials said. The woman, who is not pregnant, had not traveled recently to any place where the virus is spreading and officials say they ruled out other possible modes of transmission, which include sex. This summer, officials identified local Zika transmission in Miami and new cases are still being reported almost daily in Miami-Dade County. While the Miami area and Cameron County are now the only two places in the continental United States to confirm local cases, many experts think it’s likely that transmission has occurred outside the so-called “Zika zones” because the virus is hard to track. The woman in Texas no longer has live virus in her blood, officials said. That means if she is bitten by a mosquito now, that mosquito cannot become infectious itself and spread the virus to other people. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, the state health commissioner, said in a statement. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” Starting Monday night, state and county officials will be going door to door around where the woman lives to try to see if anyone else might have been infected. City officials in Brownsville have conducted spraying around her home. The Zika virus causes no symptoms in up to 80 percent of people who are infected. People who do show symptoms have a few days of a mild illness, with fevers and rashes. But if the virus infects pregnant women, it can cause an array of devastating defects in fetuses. There have been more than 4,400 Zika cases in the continental United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the large majority of them have been acquired while the person was traveling elsewhere. There have been fewer than 200 local cases reported. https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/28/texas-zika-case/
Health officials in Texas said Monday a woman had been infected with Zika after being bitten by a mosquito there, making Texas the second state to have documented local transmission of the virus. The woman lives in Cameron County, which sits along the Mexican border and on the Gulf Coast. The mosquitoes that are the main drivers of the virus thrive in hot, humid climates, and experts had identified South Texas as one of the most likely locations to see the virus spread by local mosquitoes. The infection was confirmed by lab tests, Texas officials said. The woman, who is not pregnant, had not traveled recently to any place where the virus is spreading and officials say they ruled out other possible modes of transmission, which include sex. This summer, officials identified local Zika transmission in Miami and new cases are still being reported almost daily in Miami-Dade County. While the Miami area and Cameron County are now the only two places in the continental United States to confirm local cases, many experts think it’s likely that transmission has occurred outside the so-called “Zika zones” because the virus is hard to track. The woman in Texas no longer has live virus in her blood, officials said. That means if she is bitten by a mosquito now, that mosquito cannot become infectious itself and spread the virus to other people. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, the state health commissioner, said in a statement. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” Starting Monday night, state and county officials will be going door to door around where the woman lives to try to see if anyone else might have been infected. City officials in Brownsville have conducted spraying around her home. The Zika virus causes no symptoms in up to 80 percent of people who are infected. People who do show symptoms have a few days of a mild illness, with fevers and rashes. But if the virus infects pregnant women, it can cause an array of devastating defects in fetuses. There have been more than 4,400 Zika cases in the continental United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the large majority of them have been acquired while the person was traveling elsewhere. There have been fewer than 200 local cases reported. https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/28/texas-zika-case/
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 County: Brownsville woman contracts Zika virus Story Comments Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size MGN Online Posted: Monday, November 28, 2016 2:15 pm By Diana Eva Maldonado, Staff writer Cameron County health officials are investigating the case of a 43-year-old Brownsville woman who has contracted Zika. State health officials say the woman is not pregnant and has not traveled to Mexico or any other areas known to have a Zika outbreak. She has undergone several tests to determine that she was indeed infected with the Zika virus, but she they say can no long spread the illness. "Based on the information we have, this patient has a negative blood test which indicates that she can no longer spread the infection by mosquito," said Dr. James W. Castillo with the Cameron County Health Authority. Officials are conducting testing at the woman's home and the surrounding area. The City of Brownsville had recently sprayed for mosquitoes in the area and will continue to do so. County and state health workers will be going door to door asking for voluntary urine samples from neighbors to determine if others may have contracted the virus. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” The county, state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together on the case. [email protected] http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_9f06136a-b599-11e6-8b37-239ab8caa02b.html
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 Texas confirms local Zika transmission Updated 3:25 PM ET, Mon November 28, 2016 (CNN)Texas has become the second state in the continental United States to confirm a locally transmitted case of Zika virus, state and federal health officials said Monday. Lab results confirmed the virus in a non-pregnant female resident of Brownsville last week. She has not traveled to an area where the virus is circulating. Health officials said they are not surprised to confirm local transmission of this virus in South Texas, near the Mexico border. The only other US state where the virus is circulating is Florida. Developing story - more to come http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/28/health/texas-confirms-local-zika-transmission/
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 WOMAN CONTRACTS ZIKA VIRUS IN RIO GRANDE VALLEY Email A technician of the Fiocruz institue stores Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to be used in research, in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Updated 19 mins ago CAMERON COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A woman in Cameron County, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley contracted the first case of Zika virus transmitted in the state, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The woman is not pregnant and hasn't traveled to any of the high-risk areas where Zika is known to spread, a news release said. A blood test shows she also can not spread the virus. "We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas," said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner, in a news release. "We still don't believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter." Testing is ongoing around the area where the woman lives to learn more about the mosquito population in the area. Common symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, according to the CDC. Approximately one in five people infected with the virus show symptoms. Severe complications from the virus that require hospitalization are rare, according to the CDC http://abc13.com/news/woman-contracts-zika-in-rio-grande-valley/1629055/
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 HEALTH ZIKA VIRUS OUTBREAK NOV 28 2016, 3:44 PM ET Zika Virus Arrives in South Texas by MAGGIE FOX SHARE Texas reported its first home-grown case of Zika virus infection Monday — making it the second U.S. state with mosquitoes spreading the virus. It's a long-feared development but not a surprising one. Like Florida, South Texas is home to the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread Zika and also hosts many travelers to and from countries where the virus has been spreading. In this photo, Christy Roberts, with the Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services, examines mosquitos collected in a trap in Houston at the Harris County Mosquito Control lab, June 2. Zika has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months, and the fear is that it will get worse there and arrive in the U.S. with the onset of mosquito season this summer. John Mone / AP "The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors," the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement. Related: Could Texas Become a Zika Hotspot? "Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient's urine, but a blood test was negative, indicating that the virus can no longer be spread from her by a mosquito. There are no other cases of suspected local transmission at this time, but health officials continue to conduct disease surveillance activities as part of the state's ongoing Zika response." Related: NBC's Full Coverage of the Zika Virus Epidemic Zika has spread far and wide across Central and South America and the Caribbean. Florida has reported more than 200 locally acquired cases. It causes a mild infection in most people but can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman gets it. "We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas," Texas State Health Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt said in a statement. "We still don't believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter." http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/zika-virus-arrives-south-texas-n689226?cid=par-twitter-feed_20161128
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 First Zika Case Transmitted By Mosquito In Texas Confirmed November 28, 2016 2:59 PM Filed Under: Cameron County, Mosquito, Rio Grande Valley, Texas Department of State Health Services, Zika Virus Zika virus (CBS11) Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Texas health officials are reporting the first case of the Zika virus that was likely transmitted within the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Monday the patient is a resident of Cameron County, located on the border the state shares with Mexico. Health officials said she is not pregnant and reports no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika transmission. The case was confirmed last week by a lab test. Officials say testing indicates the virus can no longer be spread from her by mosquitoes. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” Cameron County, DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they are working together to investigate and respond to the case. Further investigation will be necessary in order to pinpoint how and where the infection occurred. The first cases of Zika transmission through mosquito bites on the U.S. mainland were reported over the summer in Miami. With DSHS support, Cameron County and the City of Brownsville have conducted an environmental assessment at the patient’s home and have been trapping and testing mosquitoes to learn more about activity in the area. Brownsville has recently sprayed for mosquitoes in the area and will continue to take action to reduce the mosquito population. Health workers from Cameron County and DSHS will be going door to door in the area around where the case lived beginning this evening to educate the public about Zika, help people reduce potential mosquito breeding habitat on their property, and collect voluntary urine samples to determine whether other infections are present. http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/11/28/first-zika-case-transmitted-by-mosquito-in-texas-confirmed/
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Texas health officials are reporting the first case of the Zika virus that was likely transmitted within the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Monday the patient is a resident of Cameron County, located on the border the state shares with Mexico. Health officials said she is not pregnant and reports no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika transmission. The case was confirmed last week by a lab test. Officials say testing indicates the virus can no longer be spread from her by mosquitoes. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw a Zika case spread by a mosquito in Texas,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “We still don’t believe the virus will become widespread in Texas, but there could be more cases, so people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in parts of the state that stay relatively warm in the fall and winter.” Cameron County, DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they are working together to investigate and respond to the case. Further investigation will be necessary in order to pinpoint how and where the infection occurred. The first cases of Zika transmission through mosquito bites on the U.S. mainland were reported over the summer in Miami. With DSHS support, Cameron County and the City of Brownsville have conducted an environmental assessment at the patient’s home and have been trapping and testing mosquitoes to learn more about activity in the area. Brownsville has recently sprayed for mosquitoes in the area and will continue to take action to reduce the mosquito population. Health workers from Cameron County and DSHS will be going door to door in the area around where the case lived beginning this evening to educate the public about Zika, help people reduce potential mosquito breeding habitat on their property, and collect voluntary urine samples to determine whether other infections are present. http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/11/28/first-zika-case-transmitted-by-mosquito-in-texas-confirmed/
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 (edited) Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services 1390 W. Expressway 83 • San Benito, Texas 78586 • (956) 247-3632 Office • (866) 326-3316 Fax Esmeralda Guajardo, MAHS, Health Administrator James W. Castillo II, MD, Health Authority For Immediate Release November 28, 2016 Contact: Esmeralda Guajardo at (956) 247-3685 First Local Zika Virus Case Confirmed in Cameron County Cameron County officials and the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services announced today the first local Zika virus case likely transmitted by a mosquito has been confirmed in Cameron County. A 43-year old woman from Brownsville tested positive and reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors. The woman is not pregnant. “Based on the information we have, this patient has a negative blood test which indicates that she can no longer spread the infection by mosquito,” states Dr. James W. Castillo, Cameron County Health Authority. “This is a reminder that everyone should remain vigilant about Zika. If a woman is pregnant or is considering becoming pregnant, she should be evaluated for possible Zika virus exposure during each prenatal care visit. Each evaluation should include an assessment of signs and symptoms of Zika virus disease such as fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis.” Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services has implemented their Zika action response plan and is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate and respond to the case. Further investigation is being conducted in an effort to pinpoint how and where the infection occurred. “We will begin conducting door-to-door Zika screenings in the area where the case lived to minimize the threat of additional Zika transmission,” states Esmeralda Guajardo, Health Administrator. “We are urging the residents who are asked to participate in the screenings, to take advantage of them and the education being offered to help us address the risk and minimize it”. Cameron County is also working with the City of Brownsville Health Department and Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct vector control activities to minimize the breeding of mosquitoes with Zika. Mosquito traps have been set up in the area and the City of Brownsville has conducted mosquito spraying. While public health employees are conducting these response efforts in the area, public health workers will be also be conducting environmental assessments and Zika education to the residents to eliminate potential breeding sites. CCDHHS continues to emphasize the importance of the following prevention methods: Apply EPA-registered mosquito repellent that contains DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Spray exposed skin and clothing with repellent. Be sure to read label instructions on any repellent and use as directed. Dress protectively by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when you are outside. Drain standing water in your backyard and neighborhood.. Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Stay indoors to prevent mosquito bites. Keep in mind that mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus bite mostly during the daytime so county residents should use precautions throughout the day. If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel, sleep under a mosquito bed net. Use protection during sex especially if your partner traveled to an area with Zika or if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant. Women and men who are considering starting or expanding their family should talk to their healthcare provider to inform their decisions about timing of pregnancy. The Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services will continue working with the local municipalities in the education, surveillance and vector activities and will alert the public with any necessary updates. Edited November 28, 2016 by niman
niman Posted November 28, 2016 Author Report Posted November 28, 2016 Press Release For Immediate Release Monday, November 28, 2016 Contact: Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC supporting Texas investigation of possible local Zika transmission The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been informed by Texas health officials that Zika virus infection has been diagnosed in a resident of Brownsville, Texas, without any other known risk factors, suggesting possible local transmission of Zika virus infection. This case may be the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the state. CDC is closely coordinating with Texas and local officials to increase surveillance efforts and vector control activities in this area. State and local officials in Texas proactively issued Health Alerts in October 2016 expanding the testing criteria for Zika virus disease. They are responding rapidly to the current situation with a community-wide search for additional Zika cases, as recommended in CDC’s Zika interim response plan. Residents, especially pregnant women, should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. They should use an insect repellent registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) containing one of the following ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, use or repair screens on windows and doors, use air conditioning when available, and remove standing water inside and outside where mosquitoes can lay eggs. “Even though it is late in the mosquito season, mosquitoes can spread Zika in some areas of the country,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Texas is doing the right thing by increasing local surveillance and trapping and testing mosquitoes in the Brownsville area.” Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae.albopictus), but can also spread during sex by a person infected with Zika to his or her partner. Most people infected with Zika won’t have symptoms, but for those who do, the illness is usually mild. However, Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects in fetuses and infants. We continue to learn about Zika virus, and we are working hard with our state, county, and local partners to find out more about Zika virus infection in Brownsville. Here is what we do know: • Zika is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae.albopictus), both found in Brownsville. • A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy or during birth. • Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects and is associated with other adverse pregnancy outcomes in fetuses and infants. • A person who is infected with Zika virus can pass it to sex partners. • Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. • No vaccines or treatments are currently available to treat or prevent Zika infections. As of Nov 23, 2016, 4,444 cases of Zika have been reported to CDC in the continental United States and Hawaii; 182 of these were the result of local spread by mosquitoes. These cases include 36 believed to be the result of sexual transmission and one that was the result of a laboratory exposure. This number does not include the current case under investigation in Texas.
niman Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Posted November 29, 2016 Searching for Zika, officials plan to ask some Brownsville residents for urine samples BY NORA SALINAS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH 2016 Officials will do door-to-door in parts of Brownsville, asking residents to take voluntary urine tests to detect any traces of the Zika virus. Officials will go door-to-door in parts of Brownsville, asking residents to take voluntary urine tests to detect any trace of the Zika virus. Cameron County Health Authority Dr. James Castillo announced the move Monday, following the news that 43-year-old Brownsville woman had contracted the Zika virus. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services: The Texas Department of State Health Services and Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first case of Zika virus disease likely transmitted by a mosquito in Texas. DSHS is supporting Cameron County’s response to the case and to the ongoing risk of Zika in the community. The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors. Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient’s urine, but a blood test was negative, indicating that the virus can no longer be spread from her by a mosquito. There are no other cases of suspected local transmission at this time, but health officials continue to conduct disease surveillance activities as part of the state's ongoing Zika response. The woman hadn't visited Mexico or any other country where the virus is prevalent, Castillo said. The woman reported joint pain and a fever, Castillo said. When a lab analyzed her urine, traces of the Zika virus were detected. Officials will go door-to-door between East 14th Street and International Boulevard and between Taft Street and Garfield Street, asking residents for urine samples. http://valleycentral.com/news/local/searching-for-zika-officials-plan-to-ask-some-brownsville-residents-for-urine-samples
Officials will go door-to-door in parts of Brownsville, asking residents to take voluntary urine tests to detect any trace of the Zika virus. Cameron County Health Authority Dr. James Castillo announced the move Monday, following the news that 43-year-old Brownsville woman had contracted the Zika virus. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services: The Texas Department of State Health Services and Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first case of Zika virus disease likely transmitted by a mosquito in Texas. DSHS is supporting Cameron County’s response to the case and to the ongoing risk of Zika in the community. The patient is a Cameron County resident who is not pregnant and who was confirmed last week by lab test to have been infected. She reported no recent travel to Mexico or anywhere else with ongoing Zika virus transmission and no other risk factors. Laboratory testing found genetic material from the Zika virus in the patient’s urine, but a blood test was negative, indicating that the virus can no longer be spread from her by a mosquito. There are no other cases of suspected local transmission at this time, but health officials continue to conduct disease surveillance activities as part of the state's ongoing Zika response. The woman hadn't visited Mexico or any other country where the virus is prevalent, Castillo said. The woman reported joint pain and a fever, Castillo said. When a lab analyzed her urine, traces of the Zika virus were detected. Officials will go door-to-door between East 14th Street and International Boulevard and between Taft Street and Garfield Street, asking residents for urine samples. http://valleycentral.com/news/local/searching-for-zika-officials-plan-to-ask-some-brownsville-residents-for-urine-samples
niman Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Posted November 29, 2016 Map Update https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ&ll=25.909871830208676%2C-97.48435451418453&z=16
niman Posted December 10, 2016 Author Report Posted December 10, 2016 Map Update https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1FlIB7hHnVgGD9TlbSx5HwAj-PEQ&ll=25.90072358350044%2C-97.49423142865396&z=14
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