The man recovered from initial symptoms of Zika virus infection.
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The FDA’s authorization of the test in this case means it can be used in an emergency, not that the test has received approval from the agency. The patient, a man in his 70s, developed a severe case of thrombocytopenia that caused internal bleeding, according toThe Washington Post.
Zika has claimed its first American life – a Puerto Rico resident who developed a severe loss of platelets, the cells that control bleeding by helping blood to clot. Nine of those cases, or 1 percent, also showed signs of low blood platelets.
Currently, people who suspect they are infected with the virus can only be tested through a network of laboratories approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Zika virus is mainly spread through the bite of an Aedes species mosquito, and can be passed from an infected mother to her fetus.
Puerto Rico reported its first Zika case – known as the index patient – in November. “But there are some manifestations of Zika virus infection that are associated with potentially fatal outcomes”, Sharp noted – including birth defects like microcephaly, neurological disorders like Guillain-Barré syndrome, and blood problems like those suffered by the man who died.
To stem the outbreak, the CDC reported that it has enhanced surveillance systems to monitor the virus and increased activities to protect pregnant women from being infected.
The CDC recommends testing for anyone with symptoms of Zika infection who has traveled to an area with transmission within the past two weeks, as well as any pregnant women who have lived or visited affected regions.
It poses the most significant threat to pregnant women because it has been linked to a birth defect known as microcephaly, a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected.
The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency approval for the first commercial test for Zika, a major development in the country’s battle against the virus. Health centers will use the money to expand voluntary planning services including contraceptive services, outreach and education, and to hire more staff.
A death linked to mosquito-borne Zika virus has warned that the disease is all set to jolt many parts of the United States. Notably, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has repeatedly called for Congress to act on funding the full request. The Congress hasn’t acted on the request because the Republicans are opposing it.
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While a single tourist is unlikely to be the cause of an outbreak in the USA, some American cities could be vulnerable to Zika’s spread, he said.
