Zika Cases In Alabama Increase To Three

[niman]

Alabama Residents Tested for Zika Virus as of March 14, 2016

 

Number Tested Positive	Number of Submissions	Number with Results Pending
3	43	28

 

http://www.adph.org/mosquito/index.asp?id=7427

Edited March 16, 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]

2 more Alabama residents confirmed with Zika virus

 

PrintEmail

By Kelsey Stein | [email protected] 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter 
on March 15, 2016 at 4:48 PM, updated March 15, 2016 at 4:56 PM

 

ZIKA VIRUS IN ALABAMA

• 2 more Alabama residents confirmed with Zika virus
• Birmingham taking preventive measures against mosquito-borne Zika virus
• 'Pockets' of Zika virus could break out in Alabama, US
• Zika confirmed in Alabama: Mosquito linked to virus found along Gulf Coast; how to protect yourself
• First Alabama resident confirmed with Zika virus

All Stories

 

 

A total of three Alabamians have now been confirmed to have contracted travel-related cases of Zika virus, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The most recent two cases were reported in Jefferson and Shelby counties. The state's first Zika case was confirmed Feb. 10 in Morgan County.

ADPH is conducting tests on Alabama residents who have recently traveled to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are ongoing. There have been 40 other people submitted for testing, and 28 of those test results are pending.

"We continue to work with the medical community to identify high-risk individuals," Acting State Health Officer Dr. Tom Miller said. "We also caution travelers to be aware of the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses and to take appropriate bite protection measures."

As of March 9, no locally acquired cases have been reported in the U.S. All 193 confirmed cases across the country have been travel-related.

ADPH is keeping Alabamians apprised of the Zika virus status by giving updates each Monday that include total numbers of test samples submitted, the number with results pending, and number of positive results for Alabama residents at adph.org, search Zika. Results are being returned in four to six weeks.

ADPH will update guidance as additional recommendations are developed.

UAB experts have said that isolated pockets of Zika virus could crop up this spring and summer in the southern U.S., including Alabama, but a full outbreak is unlikely.

This 2003 photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes albopictus mosquito acquiring a blood meal from a human host. U.S. health officials are telling pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin America and Caribbean countries with outbreaks of a tropical illness linked to birth defects. The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites from Aedes aegypti. (File photo)

 

Health officials are advising Alabamians to take steps to limit the risk of mosquito-borne illness, like eliminating pools of stagnant water and using mosquito repellent.

The virus is transmitted primarily through the bites of Aedes species mosquitoes – the same species that transmits dengue and chikungunya viruses. Zika reportedly may be spread through blood transfusion and sexual contact, as well as rarely from mother to infant.

The infection causes mild symptoms in most cases, but has been linked to birth defects and other pregnancy-related issues.

All pregnant women with a history of travel to an area with Zika virus transmission should be evaluated.

The Centers for Disease Control offers these recommendations:

• Pregnant women should not travel to Zika-affected areas.
• Revised guidelines allow pregnant women to travel to places at higher elevations in outbreak regions. This is because the mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus are rare at higher elevations because of the lack of humidity and other conditions.
• Men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas and have pregnant partners should abstain from sex or consistently and correctly use condoms for the duration of the pregnancy for all forms of sexual activity.
• Men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas and have non-pregnant partners should consider abstaining from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms.

ADPH advises the public to be aware of the risks posed by the Zika virus and to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites, including the following:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 as directed.
• Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.
• http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/2_more_alabama_residents_confi.html
•