Zika at epidemic levels?
- Thread starter JEK
- Start date
stbartshopper
Senior Insider
It may become epidemic- let's hope not!
cassidain
Senior Insider
too late...
JEK
Senior Insider
And then there is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain–Barré_syndrome
cassidain
Senior Insider
From the CDC:
Zika & Pregnancy
How to Protect Yourself
If you DON’T live an area with Zika
If you DO live in an area with Zika
Since May 2015, Brazil has experienced a significant outbreak of Zika virus. In recent months, Brazilian officials reported an increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly.
Since these initial reports of a link between Zika and microcephaly, researchers across the world began working to study the link between Zika during pregnancy and microcephaly. In a recent article, CDC scientists announced that there is now enough evidence to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked to problems in infants, including eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth. Scientists are studying the full range of other potential health problems that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.
Other possible causes of microcephaly
Microcephaly can happen for many reasons. Some babies have microcephaly because of
Zika and Other Birth Outcomes
In addition to microcephaly, other problems have been detected among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth, such as eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth. Although Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked with these other problems in infants, there is more to learn. Researchers are collecting data to better understand the extent Zika virus’ impact on mothers and their children.
Future Pregnancies
Based on the available evidence, we think that Zika virus infection in a woman who is not pregnant would not pose a risk for birth defects in future pregnancies after the virus has cleared from her blood. From what we know about similar infections, once a person has been infected with Zika virus, he or she is likely to be protected from a future Zika infection.
Zika & Pregnancy
How to Protect Yourself
If you DON’T live an area with Zika
If you DO live in an area with Zika
- Are you pregnant? Here’s what you can do if you live in an area with Zika.
- If you are not pregnant, but you live in an area with Zika, here’s what you can do.
- Pregnant women can be infected with Zika virus.
- The primary way that pregnant women get Zika virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Zika virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners.
- A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus.
- Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy or at delivery.
- If a pregnant woman is exposed
- We don’t know how likely she is to get Zika.
- If a pregnant woman is infected
- We don’t know how the virus will affect her or her pregnancy.
- Listen to the “Zika and Pregnancy” Podcast
What Pregnant Women Need to Know
We don’t know how likely it is that Zika will pass to her fetus. - We don’t know if the fetus is infected, if the fetus will develop birth defects.
- We don’t know when in pregnancy the infection might cause harm to the fetus.
- We don’t know whether her baby will have birth defects.
- We don’t know if sexual transmission of Zika virus poses a different risk of birth defects than mosquito-borne transmission.
Since May 2015, Brazil has experienced a significant outbreak of Zika virus. In recent months, Brazilian officials reported an increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly.
Since these initial reports of a link between Zika and microcephaly, researchers across the world began working to study the link between Zika during pregnancy and microcephaly. In a recent article, CDC scientists announced that there is now enough evidence to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked to problems in infants, including eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth. Scientists are studying the full range of other potential health problems that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.
Other possible causes of microcephaly
Microcephaly can happen for many reasons. Some babies have microcephaly because of
- Changes in their genes
- Certain infections during pregnancy
- A woman being close to or touching toxins during pregnancy
Zika and Other Birth Outcomes
In addition to microcephaly, other problems have been detected among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth, such as eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth. Although Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects and has been linked with these other problems in infants, there is more to learn. Researchers are collecting data to better understand the extent Zika virus’ impact on mothers and their children.
Future Pregnancies
Based on the available evidence, we think that Zika virus infection in a woman who is not pregnant would not pose a risk for birth defects in future pregnancies after the virus has cleared from her blood. From what we know about similar infections, once a person has been infected with Zika virus, he or she is likely to be protected from a future Zika infection.
JEK
Senior Insider
Zika and Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Language:English
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Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.
Symptoms of GBS
GBS symptoms include weakness of the arms and legs and, in severe cases, can affect the muscles that control breathing. These symptoms can last a few weeks or several months. Most people fully recover from GBS, though some people have permanent damage. Very few people die from GBS.
Causes of GBS
Researchers do not fully understand what causes GBS. Most people with GBS report a bacterial or viral infection before they have GBS symptoms. Rarely, vaccination has also been associated with the onset of GBS (i.e., 1976 Swine influenza vaccine).
GBS is rare
An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people, or 1-2 cases for every 100,000 people, develop GBS each year in the US. Most cases of GBS tend to occur for no known reason, and true “clusters” of cases of GBS are very unusual.
What to do if you are concerned
If you want to know more about the number of GBS cases in a certain area, contact the state or local health department in the state where the cases happen. CDC collaborates with state and local health departments to investigate reports of possibly unusually large numbers or “clusters” of GBS cases.
Additional Resources
Language:English
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Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.
- Several countries that have experienced Zika outbreaks recently have reported increases in people who have GBS.
- Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS.
- CDC is continuing to investigate the link between GBS and Zika to learn more.
Symptoms of GBS
GBS symptoms include weakness of the arms and legs and, in severe cases, can affect the muscles that control breathing. These symptoms can last a few weeks or several months. Most people fully recover from GBS, though some people have permanent damage. Very few people die from GBS.
Causes of GBS
Researchers do not fully understand what causes GBS. Most people with GBS report a bacterial or viral infection before they have GBS symptoms. Rarely, vaccination has also been associated with the onset of GBS (i.e., 1976 Swine influenza vaccine).
GBS is rare
An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people, or 1-2 cases for every 100,000 people, develop GBS each year in the US. Most cases of GBS tend to occur for no known reason, and true “clusters” of cases of GBS are very unusual.
What to do if you are concerned
If you want to know more about the number of GBS cases in a certain area, contact the state or local health department in the state where the cases happen. CDC collaborates with state and local health departments to investigate reports of possibly unusually large numbers or “clusters” of GBS cases.
Additional Resources
stbartshopper
Senior Insider
And now Malaria is coming back strong- see today's NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/15/w...c=edit_na_20160814&nlid=49668133&ref=cta&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/15/w...c=edit_na_20160814&nlid=49668133&ref=cta&_r=0
didier
Senior Insider
lucky you, no bites. but trust me on an island such as st. barths, which depends on tourists for its bread and butter, the island does not put out a notice of an epidemic unless there really is an epidemic. it is not blown out of proportion, I only wish it were. I have so many friends and acquaintances on this island and I can only name two people that have not gotten zika. you may very well be one of the lucky ones, I hope so. gestation is betweeen 2 and seven days.
