Re: Zika Virus Epidemic...

[Stargate]

There is a group of doctors saying that there's a link between the larvicide used in the water supply and the birth defects.

Hi K, hope you are well.
There is also a report that it can be sexually transmitted. My question is though, how can we be just be hearing of it and it is spreading so fast?

[Lenzabi]

Health care systems will feel the crunch as these babies will need more care than normal an for as long as they live, even into physical adulthood. Nations of a compassionate nature will help them, those who are cold hearted, they will try and avoid it.

[Stargate]

If as they say there are places where the mosquitoes have not infected women with such devastating effects, it should be easier to find out what is causing the babies to develop this on-normal growth. I think the speed at which this disease is spreading is a little out of the norm the way we are used to normal developments of any disease.

[Kaere]

Finally, Zika has been proven as a cause of microcephaly. No more guessing. Not the only cause mind you, but a cause.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-microcephaly-cdc-1.3534436

Zika virus has been confirmed as a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other serious birth defects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC's findings are published in a special report in Wednesday's New England Journal of Medicine.

"This is a study that marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear, the CDC has concluded, that Zika does cause microcephaly," CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said in teleconference.

Babies with microcephaly are born with abnormally small heads that can result in developmental problems.

The conclusion isn't based on a single piece of conclusive proof of a connection. Rather, the call was based on mounting evidence from several studies and a careful review of the criteria needed to determine if something causes birth defects, the agency said.

Frieden said never before in history has a bite from a mosquito been seen as a cause of birth defects.

"There is still a lot that we don't know but there is no longer any doubt that Zika causes microcephaly. We're undertaking further study to look at the spectrum of disorder that the virus may cause."

'Messages will now be more direct'

The U.S. public health authority is not changing its precautionary advice to travellers, such as to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission. Those public health messages were based on preventing mosquito bites in general since the insects also transmit other viruses such as dengue and yellow fever.

"I think our messages will now be more direct," Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, CDC's director of the division of public health information and dissemination said. She hopes the news will prompt people to take precautions, given surveys suggest many Americans aren't concerned or know much about it.

Not all babies will have problems, Rasmussen said. Studies are underway to try to determine which proportion could be.

Microcephaly and other fetal malformations that might be associated with Zika infection have been reported in more than 1,000 cases in Brazil, seven in Colombia, eight in French Polynesia as well as smaller numbers in Martinique, Panama and Cabo Verde, the World Health Organization said last week.

Since 2007, mosquito-borne Zika virus cases have been reported in 17 countries and areas of the Western Pacific, the United Nations public health agency said.

For the U.S., the report comes as health officials submit an emergency request for $1.9 billion US to fight Zika internationally and prepare in case mosquitoes spread the virus within the country.

There are no documented cases of Zika infections in Canada or the continental U.S. from local mosquitoes. Local mosquito transmission has been reported in Puerto Rico.

[Stargate]

Wow, If this virus can also be sexually transmitted, it could be worst than aids. Everyone would have to use a condom even if you are monogamous, that would stop births unless for the moment of conception you could be tested.
Why does population control keep popping into my mind?

[Stirky]

It seems the virus is now in mosquitoes in Florida

Also the worry around the Olympics and some athletes deciding not to go. I think they will have a lot of measures in place to prevent people from getting the disease but I suppose you never know. Mosquitoes are such pesky little blitters and really difficult to try and control.

Hasn't been much media coverage on this story recently, apart from today mentioning about Florida.

[Lenzabi]

Yep, the virus is in Florida, and the FDA has approved a mutated mosquito meant to eliminate the zika mosquitoes.

[Stargate]

Yep, the virus is in Florida, and the FDA has approved a mutated mosquito meant to eliminate the zika mosquitoes.

There is some squabble over money Len.

[Lenzabi]

Yep, the virus is in Florida, and the FDA has approved a mutated mosquito meant to eliminate the zika mosquitoes.

There is some squabble over money Len.

But if course! Money is always involved on this world. Greed and Killing seems to infect those who get to be in charge, leaving the ones not infected scratching their heads.

[Lenzabi]

Five cases in Florida now recorded.

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