Between July 29 and August 10, Florida health officials have reported 21 Zika cases, including at least four probable cases and one pregnant woman, which were likely acquired through local mosquito transmission in a one-square mile area of Miami-Dade County, just north of downtown Miami.
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“It’s at a point that it does affect the local blood-donor population”, said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics, Evaluation and Research (CBER).
OneBlood, a part of America’s Blood Centers network whose coverage area includes most of Florida and smaller parts of Alabama, Georgia and SC, has been testing all collections for close to a month as part of the Roche trial, said Dr. Rita Reik, chief medical officer.
It has spread to at least four counties in Florida now, with at least two dozen people infected from bites from local mosquitoes carrying the virus. “We wish the best for this woman and her family”, said Washoe County District Health Officer, Kevin Dick. Symptoms can include fever, joint pain, rash and red, irritated eyes.
“Again, please know that this virus is relatively mild in nature but presents its greatest threat to women who are pregnant or who may soon become pregnant”, Hill said. But in that case a mosquito bite – the usually source of Zika – couldn’t be ruled out because both partners had traveled to an active Zika region outside the United States.
This is contained in a new study published on Friday in Washington in the US journal Cell by researchers from the Yale University. It is most unsafe to pregnant women, due to the virus’ link to microcephaly, a devastating birth defect where babies are born with smaller than normal heads and underdeveloped brains.
The move revises a previous FDA guideline issued in February that recommended active screening of donated blood only in “areas with active Zika virus transmission”. The Maryland man had traveled to the Dominican Republic, one of the many countries in the Caribbean and Latin America hit with a Zika outbreak.
Until now, only areas where Zika is known to be circulating – think south Florida and Puerto Rico – had to screen for the mosquito-borne disease.
“There’s a sheet that lists all the areas where Zika has been prevalent, transmitted by mosquitoes and those areas are off-limits for donating blood, if you have been there in the last 28 days”, Lambert said.
This week, the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed three additional cases of Zika virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now encourages people returning from places with active Zika transmission to use protection during sex for at least eight weeks after they return. He added that USA officials need to be prepared for a “broad outbreak”, although he does not think that is likely.
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Ground testing could take several weeks and people living in the area or traveling to and from it are advised to take the necessary precautions to ensure safety and prevention of any more of the virus’ spread.
