niman Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (A/TCHHSD) has confirmed the first positive case of Zika virus. The person, a male under the age of 50, contracted the illness while travelling to Colombia.https://www.austintexas.gov/news/first-confirmed-case-zika-virus-travis-county Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 CITY OF AUSTINFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date: Feb. 04, 2016Contact: Caraole Barasch 512-972-6115 Email FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF ZIKA VIRUS IN TRAVIS COUNTYThe person contracted the illness while travelling to Columbia.The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (A/TCHHSD) has confirmed the first positive case of Zika virus. The person, a male under the age of 50, contracted the illness while travelling to Colombia. The Zika virus has been declared an emerging public health threat by the World Health Organization. The mosquito that carries Zika is endemic to Central Texas.In Brazil, Zika virus infections have been identified in several infants born with microcephaly. On January 22, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted interim guidelines for health care providers in the United States caring for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak. CDC is recommending that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. A link to the guidance can be found at:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6502e1.htmA/TCHHSD had previously alerted local health care providers and partner organizations to be aware of Zika as they see patients and to ask about travel history. HHSD works with providers to help them assess the need for laboratory testing and facilitate testing from the Centers for Disease Control as needed. Right now, human testing for Zika in Texas can only be done through the Centers for Disease Control. Within weeks, our state lab in Austin is planning to test for the virus.Mosquito activity is low during our coldest months. Beginning May 1st, the A/TCHHSD mosquito management program begins collecting, testing, and treating mosquito breeding areas throughout Austin and Travis County.Zika virus is transmitted to persons primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes species). Dallas County received confirmation this week of a patient who developed Zika virus after sexual contact with an infected traveler. This is the only case of locally transmitted Zika virus infection that has been identified in the continental United States at this time. The CDC will issue guidance soon on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika.A/TCHHSD continues to encourage people to follow travel precautions and avoid mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is typically mild and resolves within one week. However, as noted previously, Zika infection in pregnant women may be associated with congenital microcephaly and fetal loss. Guillain-Barre syndrome has also been reported in patients after suspected Zika infection.Preventative measures residents can take to avoid mosquito bites include draining any water around their property, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using EPA-registered insect repellents.Additional information can be found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/article/zika-virus and at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) Map updatehttps://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=zv94AJqgUct4.kT4qLMXp3SLU Edited February 5, 2016 by niman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Austin man contracts Zika virus from travel to Colombia 3:25 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 | Filed in: NewsAustin/Travis County health authorities confirmed this afternoon that an Austin man younger than 50 has contracted the Zika virus while traveling in Colombia.He was not hospitalized and recovered at home, said Carole Barasch, a spokeswoman for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department.The Zika virus is spreading in Latin American and the Caribbean and has been linked to abnormally small heads in newborns and to temporary paralysis. Most of the cases confirmed in the United States, including more than 10 in Texas, have been the result of mosquito bites while traveling to the countries. A case in Dallas this week is believed to have been caused by sexual contact involving a person who did not travel but had sex with someone who did.The aedes aegypti is one of two mosquitoes known to transmit the tropical virus Zika.A type of mosquito in the United States is capable of transmitting the virus, but they have not been detected to date.………………..Here’s the press release from the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services DepartmentThe Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department has confirmed the first positive case of Zika virus. The person, a male under the age of 50, contracted the illness while travelling to Colombia.The Zika virus has been declared an emerging public health threat by the World Health Organization. The mosquito that carries Zika is endemic to Central Texas.In Brazil, Zika virus infections have been identified in several infants born with microcephaly. On January 22, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted interim guidelines for health care providers in the United States caring for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak. CDC is recommending that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. A link to the guidance can be found here.The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department had previously alerted local health care providers and partner organizations to be aware of Zika as they see patients and to ask about travel history. The health department works with providers to help them assess the need for laboratory testing and facilitate testing from the Centers for Disease Control as needed. Right now, human testing for Zika in Texas can only be done through the Centers for Disease Control. Within weeks, our state lab in Austin is planning to test for the virus.Mosquito activity is low during our coldest months. Beginning May 1st, the health department’s mosquito management program begins collecting, testing, and treating mosquito breeding areas throughout Austin and Travis County.Zika virus is transmitted to persons primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes species). Dallas County received confirmation this week of a patient who developed Zika virus after sexual contact with an infected traveler. This is the only case of locally transmitted Zika virus infection that has been identified in the continental United States at this time. The CDC will issue guidance soon on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika.The continues to encourage people to follow travel precautions and avoid mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is typically mild and resolves within one week. However, as noted previously, Zika infection in pregnant women may be associated with congenital microcephaly and fetal loss. Guillain-Barre syndrome has also been reported in patients after suspected Zika infection.Preventative measures residents can take to avoid mosquito bites include draining any water around their property, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using EPA-registered insect repellents.Additional information can be found here.http://www.statesman.com/news/news/austin-man-contracts-zika-virus-from-travel-to-col/nqJ6t/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Zika virus case confirmed in Travis County First Zika case confirmed in Travis CountyKVUE5:46 p.m. CST February 4, 2016CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMOREAUSTIN – The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department confirmed to KVUE Thursday that a man in Travis County has been diagnosed with the Zika virus.The health department said a man under the age of 50 had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Colombia.Zika has been linked to cases of microcephaly in newborns, a condition in which a child’s head is smaller than normal size. The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency in connection to the outbreak.Most people with the Zika virus don’t show symptoms, making it relatively hard to detect and easy to spread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Zika virus mostly causes three to seven days of mild fever, rash, aches and red eyes.Jeff Taylor, an epidemiologist with the health department told KVUE's Kris Betts that the county is getting one or two potential cases for Zika daily. Taylor added those samples -- 12 so far -- are being sent to the CDC for further testing. The Texas Department of State Health Services told KVUE's Jenni Lee on Tuesday that it was preparing to test for the virus locally instead of sending samples to the CDC.The CDC on Jan. 22 posted interim guidelines for pregnant women, recommending all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika is being transmitted. Go here to read the guidelines.http://www.kvue.com/story/news/health/2016/02/04/zika-virus-case-confirmed-travis-county/79836440/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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