niman Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Media reports cite testing of 8 suspect Zika cases in Pennsylvania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Suspected Zika cases surface in PennsylvaniaBY BEN SCHMITT | Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, 3:33 p.m.Updated 6 hours agoFrom 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 or[email protected].http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/9873558-74/zika-health-mosquito Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 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.The individuals had traveled to countries where the Zika outbreak is under way.VIDEO: Watch Bob Mayo's reportDr. 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 virushttp://www.wtae.com/news/no-zika-virus-cases-confirmed-in-pennsylvania/37716150 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Zika concern rising, but region 'should be just fine' Dana DiFilippo And Don Sapatkin, STAFF WRITERS LAST UPDATED: Friday, January 29, 2016, 8:24 PMPOSTED: 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]215-854-2617@DonSapatkinStaff 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 SapatkinRead more at http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20160130_Zika_concern_rising__but_Pa___should_be_just_fine_.html#JrGAi2Otbj68i9gC.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Pennsylvania awaits test results for Zika virusA doctor checks a test tube with a blood sample for Zika virus testing from a pregnant woman, at the maternity ward of a hospital in Guatemala on Jan. 28, 2016. PHOTO BY REUTERS BY BEN SCHMITT | Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, 3:21 p.m.Updated 14 hours agoPennsylvania health officials are awaiting test results for seven state residents who may have contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus while recently traveling out of the country.Test results came back for one other Pennsylvania resident who tested negative, state officials said Monday.So far, no locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in the United States. The illness has been reported in travelers returning from affected countries, although it cannot be transmitted from person to person.It could take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention up to two weeks to complete the remaining tests at its laboratories in Atlanta.The state health department plans to release local updates on a weekly basis.The primary mosquito that carries Zika is not found in Pennsylvania, experts said. However, the Asian tiger mosquito, a secondary type of mosquito that can carry the disease, has been found in the state.There is no cure for the Zika virus, and there is no vaccine to prevent it. In many cases, symptoms are mild or go unnoticed, experts said. Zika spreads through mosquito bites, and symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.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 said the virus could affect as many as 4 million people in the Americas.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.Ben Schmitt is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7991 or[email protected].http://triblive.com/news/healthnews/9885831-74/mosquito-pennsylvania-zika Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 http://www.health.pa.gov/My Health/Diseases and Conditions/U-Z/Pages/Zika.aspx#.VrIzGrIrKds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 ZIKA VIRUSUpdated 2/8/16 Zika virus is a generally mild illness that is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), lasting from several days to one week. Rarely, the virus is spread from mother to child. Spread of the virus through blood transfusion and sexual contact has also been reported. The current Zika virus outbreak began in May 2015 in Brazil, leading to reports of Guillian-Barrésyndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes. The outbreak has spread to numerous countries and areas, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue travel notices to regions where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing. The first case of Zika virus disease contracted in the U.S. occurred recently in Texas and involved an individual who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the Zika infection while traveling abroad. Other confirmed cases of the illness in the U.S. have occured in individuals who had traveled to areas affected by the Zika outbreak. TRAVEL ALERTThe CDC has issued a travel alert for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. The list of affected areas may change frequently, so please checkwww.cdc.gov/zika for the most up-to-date information. POTENTIAL RISK TO PREGNANT WOMENHealth authorities are currently investigating a potential link between Zika virus in pregnant women and microcephaly (an abnormally small head) in their babies. Until more is known, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and must travel to these areas should consut with their health care provider and take extra care to protect themselves from mosquito bites when traveling to an area known to have Zika. Update: Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure (Feb 5, 2016) CDC's Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women during a Zika Virus Outbreak (Jan. 19, 2016) Men who have recently traveled to a Zika-affected area and have a pregnant partner should take steps to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus. Interim Guidelines for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus (Feb 5, 2016) ABOUT ZIKA VIRUSZika virus occurs in tropical areas with large mosquito populations, and is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. The virus was first discovered in 1947, but the first outbreak of the disease wasn't documented until 2007. SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTZika virus is spread primarily to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species of mosquito. The primary mosquito that carries the disease is not found in Pennsylvania. A secondary mosquito, known commonly as the Asian Tiger mosquito, may potentially carry the Zika virus. The Asian Tiger mosquito has been reported in southern and southeastern Pennsylvania but is not active in winter months. Zika virus cannot be transmitted through casual contact. The incubation period (time from being bitten by the infected mosquito to symptoms) is not clear, but is likely between a few days to one week. Symptoms:The symptoms, which are usually mild and last for 2-7 days, include:Fever;Rash;Muscle and/or joint pain;Conjunctivitis (red eyes); andHeadache.Severe illness requiring hospitalization is uncommon. Deaths from Zika virus are rare.Diagnosis:See your health care provider if you develop the symptoms described above and have visited an area where Zika is found.If you have recently traveled to Zika-affected areas, tell your health care provider when and where you traveled. If you are pregnant and traveled to a Zika-affected area during your pregnancy, contact your health care provider.All Zika virus testing should be coordinated with the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH. Specimens will be routed to the CDC for testing as appropriate.Testing might also be done to rule out other viruses that have similar symptoms. Treatment:No vaccine or medications are available to prevent or treat Zika virus.Treat the symptoms:Get plenty of rest;Drink fluids to prevent dehydration; andTake medicine, such as acetaminophen, to reliever fever and pain. Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen.PREVENTIONThe best way to prevent Zika is to protect against mosquito bites when traveling to an affected area. This can be done by:Using an insect repellent containing DEET;Wearing light-colored clothes that cover as much of the body as possible;Using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows, and;Sleeping under mosquito nets.Sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible. Men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas should take steps to prevent the spread of Zika virus through sexual contact.Interim Guidelines for Prevention of SexualTransmission of Zika Virus (Feb 5, 2016)If you develop symptoms within two weeks of visiting a Zika-affected country, contact your health care provider.LINKSGeneral Information:Additional information on Zika:EnglishSpanishPregnant Women:Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus OutbreakZika and PregnancyHealth Care Providers:Clinical Evaluation and DiseaseDiagnostic TestingObstetrical Health Care Providers:Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus OutbreakQ&A for Obstetrical Health Care Providers: Pregnant Women and Zika Virus InfectionIn SpanishPediatric Health Care ProvidersInterim Guidelines for the Evaluation and Testing of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus InfectionsQ&A for Pediatric Health Care Providers: Infants and Zika Virus Infectionhttp://www.health.pa.gov/My Health/Diseases and Conditions/U-Z/Pages/Zika.aspx#.Vri5-7IrK6p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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