Georgia Confirms First Zika Case ex-Colombia

[niman]

http://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2016-02-03/first-travel-related-zika-case-confirmed-georgia

[niman]

First Travel-Related Zika Case Confirmed In Georgia

February 3, 2016

Nancy Nydam

 

 

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is confirming the first travel-related case of Zika virus in Georgia. Testing was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The non-pregnant individual traveled to Colombia between the end of December and the first of January and has made a full recovery. Tests are still being done on specimens from several other Georgia residents with travel history to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are ongoing.

“It is extremely important that individuals who have traveled to countries where there are on-going Zika virus outbreaks keep guard against additional mosquito bites,” said Cherie Drenzek, D.V.M, state epidemiologist for DPH. “During the first week or so of infection, Zika virus can be passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then transmit the virus to other people.”

DPH cautions travelers, especially women who are pregnant, headed to countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others. The complete list of Zika affected countries can be found athttp://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information.

There are urgent concerns about Zika virus infection and pregnant women. Zika virus infections have been confirmed in infants with microcephaly and in the current outbreak in Brazil, a marked increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly has been reported. Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should not travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who have traveled to these areas should consult their physician immediately. Health care providers should ask all pregnant women about recent travel.

Zika virus is primarily spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. Most people infected with Zika virus never know they are sick.

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Travelers should check CDC travel advisories for their destinations and take precautions to protect themselves from mosquitos:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535 (use as directed)
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents)
• Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms

The number of Zika cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States will likely increase. These imported cases could result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the country, including Georgia.

For more information about Zika virus and current travel advisories, visitdph.georgia.gov or cdc.gov/zika.

Edited February 3, 2016 by niman

[niman]

Map update

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

[niman]

Zika virus is now in Georgia

 4:04 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 | Filed in: News

 



 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

 

The unidentified person traveled to Colombia between the end of December and January.

 

The Zika virus has made its way to Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Health confirmed today the first travel-related case of the Zika virus in the state. A sample from the infected person was tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was positive for the virus.

The Georgia case involves a person who was not pregnant and had traveled to Colombia from late December through early January. It’s unclear how the Georgia traveler got the virus, whether through a mosquito bite or some other mode of transmission. The person made a full recovery, according the state Department of Health, which did not immediately disclose further details about the case.

John Brook, medical epidemiologist works the phone at his Zika station in the emergency operations center on Wednesday. JOHN SPINK /[email protected]

The Zika virus, which is found in the Pacific Islands and in parts of Africa, has become a health crisis in several South and Central American countries and some Caribbean islands. Since last year, the virus has exploded in Brazil and is believed to be the cause of birth defects in hundreds of newborns in that nation. Microcephaly, a condition marked by an usually small head in infants has been the most common defect since the outbreak began.

To date, 31 cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in the United States spread across 12 states. All have been related to travel.

“This is a whole new ballgame,” Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Division of Vector Borne Diseases at the CDC told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. “We have more questions than answers.”

Beth Schweitzer, executive assistant to the incident manager (left) works calls in the emergency operations center on Wednesday. JOHN SPINK /[email protected]

In Texas, a man who’d traveled to Venezuela apparently infected his sexual partner with the virus on his return to the U.S., the CDC confirmed this week. That potentially opens up a new route of transmission. Four out of five people who contract the virus get it through mosquito bites from two different types of the insect, which are commonly found in the Southern United States.

About four out of five people get the Zika virus and have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are joint pain, fever and rash. Pregnant women or those who think they are pregnant are advised by the CDC not to travel to countries that are experiencing an outbreak of the disease. For a list of countries visithttp://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/breaking-news/first-zika-case-confirmed-in-georgia/nqJLM/

[niman]

Zika virus case confirmed in Georgia

 

By: Annalee Penny

•  

POSTED:FEB 03 2016 03:23PM EST

UPDATED:FEB 03 2016 04:52PM EST

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Public Health confirms the first travel-related case of Zika virus in Georgia.

The woman traveled to Columbia between December and the first of January. She was not pregnant and has made a full recovery. Tests are being run on specimens from other people living in Georgia who have traveled to places where there are outbreaks of Zika virus.

  

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Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a health emergency in four counties due to Zika virus. This covers Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough, and Santa Rosa counties.

Zika virus is primarily spread to people via mosquito bites. However, reports have been confirmed of Zika being sexually transmitted in Texas. The most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint paint, and red eyes. Mild symptoms usually last several days to a week. Typically, hospitalization is uncommon and most people infected with Zika never realize they are sick.

There is currently no vaccine or medicine that will prevent or treat Zika. Travelers should check CDC travel advisories for their destinations and take precautions to protect themselves from mosquitos:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535 (use as directed)
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents)
• Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms

The U.N. health agency convened an emergency meeting of independent experts in Geneva to assess the outbreak after noting a suspicious link between Zika's arrival in Brazil last year and a surge in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads.

"After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological complications constitute an extraordinary event and public health threat to other parts of the world," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said.

WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year, but no recommendations were made to restrict travel or trade.

"It is important to understand, there are several measures pregnant women can take," Chan said. "If you can delay travel and it does not affect your other family commitments, it is something they can consider.

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/local-news/84253975-story