Health

Ueslei Marcelino / Reuters

CLICK HERE - RESEARCH - Zika Virus Infects Neural Progenitors in the Adult Mouse Brain and Alters Proliferation

New research has found evidence the mosquito-borne virus can adversely affect cells necessary for replenishing damaged neurons.

theatlantic.com - by Marina Koren - August 19, 2016

Zika is understood to pose the greatest threat to pregnant women and their fetuses, which can be born with severe brain defects if infected with the mosquito-borne virus. But new research suggests Zika may damage adult brains, too, giving scientists another thread to follow in their attempts to understand the virus as the number of infections continues to rise in South America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.

U.S. researchers have found evidence that a certain kind of brain cell present in newborns that remains in some amounts in adulthood can be susceptible to Zika infection, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

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kfdm.com - by Staff - August 12, 2016

From Orange County Mosquito Control District:

Orange County Mosquito Control District has been informed by the Texas Department of Health that a collection of mosquitoes from Orange County tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquitoes testing positive for WNV were collected on August 2nd from an area on the west side of the County - North of IH-10, East of HWY 105, West of Doty Rd. and South of Sawmill Rd., in Vidor. This is the 1st sample of mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus in Orange County in 2016. This information tells us that the virus is cycling between the birds and the mosquitoes in the area. So, it is important for everyone to take personal protective measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites regardless of what area it is that they live in throughout the county. Currently, West Nile virus activity in Texas is as follows: Mosquitoes Collections 903, Bird’s 1, Horses 4, Humans 37, Total 945. West Nile virus activity has been detected in 26 counties in Texas so far this year.

Treatments in the area have been increased and we are following up with additional mosquito collections and the testing of samples from the area to determine whether or not viral activity still exists. These procedures will continue until we receive negative results from the T.D.H. labs.

Associated Press - by Danica Coto - August 5, 2016

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Health officials announced Friday that an elderly person infected with Zika has died in Puerto Rico as the U.S. territory battles what federal authorities call a silent epidemic.

The victim was a 75-year-old man who was hospitalized and died from health ailments unrelated to Zika, according to Health Secretary Ana Rius. . . .

. . . The first Zika-related death was reported in late April and involved a 70-year-old man from the San Juan metro area. He suffered internal bleeding after developing a condition in which antibodies that formed in response to a Zika infection began attacking blood platelet cells. At the time, Rius said there were three other cases of the condition known as severe thrombocytopenia and that those patients recovered.

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CLICK HERE - Zika virus: first American dies of complications linked to disease

Florida governor asks CDC to activate emergency response team following increase in Zika cases

CLICK HERE - CDC - Zika Virus - Advice for people living in or traveling to Wynwood, a neighborhood in Florida

weather.com - by Eric Chaney - August 1, 2016

The CDC issued an advisory Monday that says pregnant women should not travel to a so-called Zika "transmission area" near Miami, the same day governor Rick Scott announced there are 10 new infections of the Zika virus likely transmitted by mosquitoes, bringing the total in the state to 14.

The governor called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to activate an Emergency Response Team to assist the Florida Department of Health and other partners in their investigation, sample collection, and mosquito control efforts.

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