The Zika Virus

[jyl]

I would think the Zika virus will be in the Southern US in a year or three. The mosquitos that carry it are abundant in that part of the country.

The agency's director says the virus is WHO to convene emergency meeting on Zika virus threat

As a bonus, you Southerners will see your pesky mosquitos eradicated.

[porsche4life]

We had mosquitos BAD last year, and I'm not sure why. This year I will eradicate with no mercy, mexico isn't that far away from us!

[vash]

mosquitos..i hate them.

it isnt even fair that they are the delivery system for so many nasty illnesses.

i think i will remodel my next home to look and feel exactly like an Ebola Quarantine tent.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

...As a bonus, you Southerners will see your pesky mosquitos eradicated.

If only, fighting West Nile has not resulted in that yet and West Nile kills a handful of people here every year.

[jyl]

There are some new approaches using genetically modified sterile mosquitos. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_insect_technique

I expect the experiments will go forward - there is one on an island in Florida, that has been held up, but now there will be new urgency. I suspect that with these techniques, mosquitos - or any other insect - can be eradicated from an area. Whether it is wise to eradicate an insect, I'm not sure. Even nasty things have a role in the ecosystem. But if the Zika virus is shown to cause microcephaly and Zika virus is found in US mosquitos, we'll do it. Sales of Deet and netting will also rocket.

[kach22i]

Just one of many threats on their way, courtesy of climate change.

JUL 24, 2014
Northern Virginia: 'Ground Zero' for Kissing Bug Disease
Northern Virginia: 'Ground Zero' for Kissing Bug Disease - The Atlantic

...............the disease could live in the body for decades without producing any symptoms and could be passed from mother to child................................

The bite itself is painless, and many people never show any signs of the disease. A third of those with Chagas, however, develop heart disease or megacolon, and untreated, they die from what appear to be sudden heart attacks. An estimated 11,000 people lose their lives every year to the disease, according to the WHO..............................

Dr. Rachel Marcus, a cardiologist, believes Northern Virginia could be “ground zero” for Chagas disease, because of the volume of immigrants from Bolivia, where the disease is endemic. In 2012, she gave up her private practice to focus on patients with Chagas disease. If colleagues thought she would never find a patient with a tropical disease near the Beltway, they were wrong......................

According to Dr. Susan Montgomery, who leads the epidemiology team at the CDC, American doctors started to hear about Chagas disease in 2007 when blood banks in the U.S. began screening for it and sending people letters informing them that they had tested positive and should see their physicians. Health care providers started contacting the CDC and they haven’t stopped. In a ranking of the common phone inquiries the CDC receives, “Chagas disease is always number two every single month,” Montgomery said........

Both women are hoping that the CDC and public health departments in Virginia and across the country will do more to encourage testing, especially among immigrants from regions where the disease is endemic. According to Marcus, patients don’t have to start medication right away, but at least they will know that they need to have their hearts monitored frequently.

“We have the right to know if we are sick,” Sanchez adds.

More information posted in this thread:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/8603395-post1.html

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

....Whether it is wise to eradicate an insect, I'm not sure. Even nasty things have a role in the ecosystem....

Exactly, at some point every living thing is food for another.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by jyl

I would think the Zika virus will be in the Southern US in a year or three. The mosquitos that carry it are abundant in that part of the country.

Several cases already reported here.

Many South and Central American countries are asking women to hold off on pregnancy for two to three years. It will be interesting to see the impact in the years ahead. Nearly empty Kindergarten classes, low college enrollment 16 to 18 years after that, etc.

[vash]

Isn't the Olympics happening there? Bust out the stash of DDT.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[GH85Carrera]

The Zika virus does not worry me much. The West Nile does worry me. People die every year from West Nile right in Oklahoma.

https://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Acute_Disease_Service/Disease_Information/Mosquitoborne_Illness/West_Nile_Virus/

The Zika is only suspected to maybe cause some babies to have birth defects. No proof as yet it is connected.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by KNS

Several cases already reported here.

Many South and Central American countries are asking women to hold off on pregnancy for two to three years. It will be interesting to see the impact in the years ahead. Nearly empty Kindergarten classes, low college enrollment 16 to 18 years after that, etc.

Cases here were contracted there.

[jyl]

Did some more reading. This disease has not gotten much attention. So efforts to develop diagnostic/screening, cure, vaccine all very early stage. There won't be a cure or vaccine for years. So when the first Zika-carrying mosquitos are found in the US, either through spread of mosquitos from outbreak areas (think travel to/from summer Olympics in Rio) or from mosquitos biting infected persons in the US, mosquito control/eradication will be the only immediate action available.

It is true that the casual link between Zika and microencephaly isn't proven. Yet?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by jyl

Did some more reading. This disease has not gotten much attention. So efforts to develop diagnostic/screening, cure, vaccine all very early stage. There won't be a cure or vaccine for years. So when the first Zika-carrying mosquitos are found in the US, either through spread of mosquitos from outbreak areas (think travel to/from summer Olympics in Rio) or from mosquitos biting infected persons in the US, mosquito control/eradication will be the only immediate action available.

It is true that the casual link between Zika and microencephaly isn't proven. Yet?

That is what I heard reported but I obviously can't say with any assurance. However the same report (NPR) stated that Brazil has had a huge increase in the number of microcephaly cases and there is a high correlation between MC and Zika infection. I'm guessing that so far causality hasn't been clearly demonstrated with clinical significance.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by jyl

There are some new approaches using genetically modified sterile mosquitos. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_insect_technique

I expect the experiments will go forward - there is one on an island in Florida, that has been held up, but now there will be new urgency. I suspect that with these techniques, mosquitos - or any other insect - can be eradicated from an area. Whether it is wise to eradicate an insect, I'm not sure. Even nasty things have a role in the ecosystem. But if the Zika virus is shown to cause microcephaly and Zika virus is found in US mosquitos, we'll do it. Sales of Deet and netting will also rocket.

Our track record with either adding or subtracting a species from various regions isn't really so hot. I HATE mosquitoes, but wonder what else it will screw up. Humans aren't very good at playing God.

Originally Posted by kach22i

Just one of many threats on their way, courtesy of climate change.

Huh? You might as well be blaming Donald Trump. The biggest reason why these epidemics become global is the volume of international travel. You'd be far better off blaming globalization.

[vash]

some insects are taking over due to climate change. not so sure the mosquito qualifies.

but the tick problem on the moose is. i think they call them "blue moose" when the entire surface of the animal is covered in ticks. trust me, do not google the images. do NOT.

mosquitos? i've quit killing spider. i consider us on the same team. i'll muffle my girl scream as i run the spider i find in my house to the outside..where the mosquitos are.

[enzo1]

3 cases confirmed in Houston...

[porsche4life]

One confirmed in AZ too...

[jyl]

Timeline of Zika virus.

Did Brazil, global health agencies fumble Zika response? | Reuters

I don't really get why people are accusing the WHO of being slow. Seems like doctors in Brazil weren't talking about Zika having serious effects until last September, and the connection between Zika and microcepaly is still only circumstantial. Declaring a major emergency is a big decision, can't be done lightly.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by jyl

I would think the Zika virus will be in the Southern US in a year or three. The mosquitos that carry it are abundant in that part of the country.

As a bonus, you Southerners will see your pesky mosquitos eradicated.

It's already here,,, and eradicating mosquitoes ? that will happen about the same time we eliminate illegal drugs and poverty.. The most effective insecticide for eradicating mosquitoes was DDT and I don't think it will be coming back into use anytime soon..

[jyl]

Originally Posted by 74-911

It's already here,,, and eradicating mosquitoes ? that will happen about the same time we eliminate illegal drugs and poverty.. The most effective insecticide for eradicating mosquitoes was DDT and I don't think it will be coming back into use anytime soon..

Zika virus is not in mosquitos in TX. Genetic engineering wasn't available when DDT was being used. Three approaches here: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/business/new-weapon-to-fight-zika-the-mosquito.html?_r=0&referer=https://news.google.com/