Study Finds Zika Virus Causes Damage to Infants Beyond Microcephaly
- by Douglas Reid
- in Health Care
- — Oct 4, 2016
As the Zika virus can also be transmitted sexually, the World Health Organization advised that "pregnant women's sexual partners living in or returning from areas with Zika virus outbreaks should ensure safer sex or abstain from sex for the duration of their partner's pregnancy".
A summary of the study and its conclusions is being published online by JAMA Neurology, a monthly peer-reviewed journal of the American Medical Association. Thousands of babies have been born with Zika-linked microcephaly, majority in Brazil, since an outbreak began in South America in April 2015.
But the study of 11 Zika-infected infants in Brazil - the epicenter of the Zika epidemic - found that microcephaly is only one of many brain injuries caused by the virus.
The Texas Department for State Health Services has released an advisory notice for all pregnant women across six South Texas counties: Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, Starr, Webb and Zapata, according to a news release.
"Combined findings from clinical, laboratory, imaging and pathological examinations provided a more complete picture of the severe damage and developmental abnormalities caused by ZIKV [Zika virus] infection than has been previously reported", the study concludes.
Health Ministry officials have urged the public to be vigilant of Culex mosquitoes, also known as common house mosquitoes, the main carrier of the Zika virus.
"At the moment, we check pregnant women in Zika-affected areas only, not all pregnant women".
Trudeau, Harper, Chretien to attend Shimon Peres funeral
Peres died around 3:00am (0000 GMT), Rafi Walden, who was Peres's personal doctor and also his son-in-law, told AFP . Edelstein also lit a memorial candle for Peres at the entrance to the Knesset and recited Psalms in his memory.
"One of the important things we'll be doing with the funds", said Lurie, "is picking up those candidates and moving them into advance development when they are ready". There were small differences in the virus' genetic material compared to other samples of Zika virus, did they cause the virus to be exceptionally aggressive? But, he added that action by the U.S. Congress last week to provide $1.1 billion in additional funding to combat the virus "makes me a little bit less anxious about the situation".
Fauci stressed that he and other HHS officials would like to have a permanent fund in place to respond to emergency health issues, such as the sudden emergence of Zika in South America a year ago, rather than have to wait for Congress and the White House to work out funding details.
A Zika test costs about 2,000 baht ($58) is the cost of a single Zika virus test but repeat tests are often needed.
Researchers found that Patient 1's blood had a very high concentration of virus - 200 million particles per millilitre.
Subramaniam said the ministry would increase its control and monitoring efforts to prevent the spread of the disease in Malaysia.
"Controlling mosquito populations is crucial to diminishing Zika virus transmission, as well as the transmission of other vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya".
This Q & A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.
