Zika outbreaks have been reported in several countries, many of which are in South and Central America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Colombia, for instance, the number of Zika cases has increased to more than 37,000.
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Look at the chart below and one can easily reach a conclusion – the world has lost the battle against dengue, a vector-borne disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti, the same mosquito that spreads the Zika virus.
Aylward said it would move early next month to accelerate research on developing diagnostic tests and vaccines against Zika by convening worldwide experts.
Building on this work, the team, led by researchers at Australia’s Monash University, worked to “super-infect” the mosquitos by injecting them with not one but two strains of Wolbachia, hoping the resulting mosquitos would be even less hospitable to replicating the dengue virus.
The virus itself doesn’t usually cause that much damage. CDC’s health security plans are created to effectively monitor for disease, equip diagnostic laboratories and support mosquito control programs both in the US and around the world.
The new recommendations include infants with typical head size, normal ultrasounds, and a normal physical exam born to mothers who traveled to areas with Zika do not require any special care beyond what is routinely provided to newborns.
Brazil is the only country to report a spike in microcephaly after Zika arrived previous year. Researchers hope to enroll 100 mothers and their babies with microcephaly. Some individuals can also experience muscle pain and headaches. The virus only stays in the system for about a week, and the window for testing is only about five days, Espinal explained.
Brazil is scrambling to contain the Zika outbreak that threatens attendance at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August. They are also studying the biology and ecology of the species. Severe cases of microcephaly have involved the infant developing seizures; developmental delays such as speaking, sitting, standing and walking; problems with movement and balance; hearing loss; vision problems and more.
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Cuban President Raul Castro announced Monday that 9,200 troops and police have been mobilized in a campaign to eliminate mosquitoes and protect the country against the Zika virus. “We have not seen, yet, the peak”.
