The CDC evaluated 6,157 specimens from suspected Zika virus-infected patients from Puerto Rico on November 1, 2015 to April 14, 2016.
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“We do not know if there are risk factors in the person infected with Zika that would make them more suspectible to developing ITP”, Sharp said. “This capability uniquely positions Quest to complement the response of public health laboratories for Zika outbreaks where access to FDA authorized diagnostic tests can potentially influence the quality of patient management”.
Scott said he’s already working with every county on the Zika virus.
Secretary Rius said three other patients in Puerto Rico were reported with severe thrombocytopenia- a condition where a person suffers from low platelet count and excess bleeding could happen if the person is cut or injured. The U.S. territory is battling more than 700 Zika cases and seeks federal funds to help prevent an epidemic at a time of worsening economic crisis.
“Zika virus continuing to circulate in Puerto Rico”, Sharp said.
Zika virus infection can lead to early pregnancy loss for an expectant mother and birth defects in newborns, including microcephaly, a condition marked by an abnormally small head and poorly developed brain.
“Today, the CDC confirmed the first Zika-related death in the United States”, Nelson said.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first USA test to diagnose the Zika virus, according to an FDA release.
The virus is linked to birth defects, and has been found in about 20 southern countries. Severe complications from the virus that require hospitalization are rare and most people are over the worst of the symptoms after a week, according to the CDC. About 80% of people with Zika infections have no symptoms, according to the CDC.
Sharp said the man presumably was bitten by an infected mosquito and was hospitalized. The rest were infected sexually, since men can transmit the virus through intercourse, even weeks after losing any symptoms of the infection.
A health officials said about 80% of those who get Zika, do not show symptoms of the virus.
Puerto Rico has a population of 3.5 million people.
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Sharp added that the relationship between bleeding and Zika might be similar to that which occurs between Zika and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.
