The most widely recognized source of the infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Advertisement
More than 2,500 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Zika, along with more than 9,000 in the US territories such as Puerto Rico, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On the other hand, transfusion of contaminated blood to pregnant women could lead to severe birth defects like microcephaly to their unborn babies. Fifty-six suspected cases of Guillain-Barre were reported the first seven months of 2016, of which 34 were linked to infection with Zika or an unspecified flavivirus.
Given the frequency of travel of individuals within the US, Mr Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said there was a risk that people without symptoms of Zika could donate blood and transmit the virus. STBTC, which began testing donations for Zika on July 5, was the second center in the United States to announce testing for the virus.
“This is a bombshell, because this is extremely rapid introduction of a new test nationwide that’s nearly unprecedented”, Dr. Jeffrey McCullough, emeritus professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, told the New York Times. Instead resources used to fight Ebola, cancer and other diseases were re-directed towards Zika.
Congress “should treat Zika like the threat that it is” and “fully fund our Zika response”. The delay for more funds “puts more Americans at risk”.
“But that’s not a sustainable solution”, Obama said.
“A fraction of the funding won’t get the job done”, he said.
USA health officials report that the Zika virus can be spread sexually even when a partner shows no signs of infection.
“The blood supply often is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to detecting infectious-disease outbreaks”, Beddard said. She tells Newswatch 16 people who have visited areas where Zika is prevalent and those who came in contact with Zika patients have to wait before giving blood.
Luciana Borio, M.D., the FDA’s acting chief scientist, said that the scientific and epidemiological information on Zika virus clearly indicates the need for precautionary measures to prevent the spread of infection.
“Questions that pertain to those countries with a high risk for Zika, those questions have been added”, said Magdalinski.
Two US lawmakers, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of CT and Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas, had recently urged the FDA to expand testing for Zika to blood banks nationwide, saying it would cost less than $10 per donor.
Advertisement
In February, the FDA recommended testing of donated blood and blood components only in areas where Zika was actively spreading, but agency officials now say that universal testing is needed to further protect those who get donated blood. This news story is related to Print/145875-US-urges-all-donated-blood-undergo-tests-for-Zika/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.
