Everything you need to know about Zika

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains how the Zika virus is transmitted, describes its symptoms and teaches you how to protect yourself.

Source: CNN

Brazilian scientists find new Zika-linked brain disorder in adults

An edes aegypti mosquito is seen inside a test tube as part of a research on preventing the spread of the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases at a control and prevention center in Guadalupe, neighbouring Monterrey, Mexico, in this March 8, 2016 file photo.

REUTERS/DANIEL BECERRIL/FILES

Scientists in Brazil have uncovered a new brain disorder associated with Zika infections in adults: an autoimmune syndrome called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, that attacks the brain and spinal cord.

Zika has already been linked with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome, which attacks peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, causing temporary paralysis that can in some cases require patients to rely on respirators for breathing.

The new discovery now shows Zika may provoke an immune attack on the central nervous system as well.

Complete story at Reuters

Brazil Confiscates Abortion Pills From Pregnant Women Exposed To Zika

In this Feb. 12, 2016 photo a baby born with microcephaly is examined by a neurologist in Campina Grande in Paraiba state, Brazil. CREDIT: AP PHOTO, FELIPE DANA

“I contacted Zika four days ago. I just found out I’m about six weeks pregnant. I have a son I love dearly. I love children. But I don’t believe it is a wise decision to keep a baby who will suffer. I need an abortion. I don’t know who to turn to. Please help me ASAP.”

This plea comes from one of the 20,000 emails sent by Latin American women to Women on Web, the international abortion advocacy organization that’s been sending free abortion pills to Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and other Zika-infected countries where abortion is illegal or nearly impossible to access. At least, until recently.

Women on Web discovered that officials have confiscated almost all of the pills shipped to Brazil, where more than 4,000 women have given birth to babies born with shrunken skulls — a condition linked to the Zika virus. Forced to stop all further shipments to the country, staff are struggling to find other ways to get the medication to concerned women.

The rest of this story at Think Progress

3D Structure Revealed: Scientists Finally Know What Zika Virus Looks Like

The incredible image above is the 3D structure of the Zika virus, which has only just been revealed. The finding could help scientists determine how the virus is transmitted and, hopefully, how to prevent infection.

The report, published today in Science, describes the virus as a spherical structure resembling that of the dengue virus and other viruses in its genus, known as "flaviviruses." But the 3D rendition also reveals some important differences. For example, scientists found the virus’ outer shell is slightly different from that of other viruses. This could help researchers attack the virus as a whole, or at the very least, prevent it from attaching to human cells.

Most people who are infected with Zika don't become ill; only 20 percent of infected persons develop symptoms, which resemble the flu and last around five days. But an outbreak of the virus in Brazil has caused concern among health officials who think Zika is responsible for different types of birth defects, including one that affects the brain size of newborns, microcephaly. Researchers have also linked the virus to a severe neurological disorder that causes temporary paralysis, Guillain-Barré syndrome. And even though Zika is mostly transmitted through mosquito bites, some people have become infected throughsexual contact, which means that avoiding mosquitoes isn't always enough to prevent infection. Because of this, researchers have been trying to find out what makes the virus tick. And now, they finally have a blueprint to work with.

Read on at The Verge

Zika and Pregnancy: What you should know

Zika virus disease (Zika) spreads to people mainly through the bite by two species of infected mosquitoes, one of which is more likely to transmit Zika. In past outbreaks, most people have not gotten sick, so people may not even know they are infected. Based on current knowledge, the greatest risk for complications from Zika is to a pregnant woman’s fetus. If a pregnant woman is infected with Zika, she can pass the virus to her fetus. Zika has been linked to cases of microcephaly, a serious birth defect, and is a sign that the baby is born with a smaller brain, which can result in medical problems and impaired development. Researchers are working to understand more about how Zika affects pregnant women and fetuses.

To protect the pregnancy, couples can:

• Check CDC travel guidance; pregnant women should avoid travel to any area with Zika.www.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information.
• Talk to her doctor or other healthcare provider first, if she must travel to an area with Zika.
• Prevent mosquito bites, including covering up arms and legs and using EPA-registered insect repellent, which is safe to use during pregnancy.
• Use latex condoms, the right way, every time or choose not to have any type of sex if the male partner has been in an area with Zika during the pregnancy.

Information from CDC,gov

WHO: Evidence Link Zikavirus and Microcephaly

Scientists are now 100% convinced there is a link between the Zika virus and the birth of babies with small skulls, microcephaly. There is also a proof for a link between Zika and the Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a muscle disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) writes this in their newest situation report.

The full WHO press release

Military Times: Meet the U.S. military super scientists fighting to destroy the Zika virus

While the U.S. Navy is better known for its role in protecting Americans from enemies abroad, its scientists also work in labs throughout the world, combatting an unseen enemy: infectious disease.

And now, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 6, based in Lima, Peru, has set its sights on the Zika virus — declared by the World Health Organization to be a public health emergency.

Zika, which is spread by mosquitos, was once thought to be a minor health threat because its symptoms were typically mild and lasted about a week. However, scientists increasingly believe there is a link between Zika infections in pregnant women and microcephaly in newborns, where the child’s head is unusually small due to abnormal brain development.

Zika, a virus transmitted through mosquito bites, is affecting multiple countries in Latin America, and is expected to spread to the U.S.

The Lima-based unit, known in Navy lingo as NAMRU-6, was officially established in 2011, but has roots going back to 1978, when a Peruvian Navy official asked the United States to set up a lab to assist Peru in studying tropical medicine and diseases. By 1983, a research unit had been established to study diseases and search for cures, benefitting both countries. The unit also has labs in Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos, along the Amazon River.

Read the rest of the story at Military Times

Reuters: Mosquitoes' rapid spread poses threat beyond Zika

As the world focuses on Zika's rapid advance in the Americas, experts warn the virus that originated in Africa is just one of a growing number of continent-jumping diseases carried by mosquitoes threatening swathes of humanity.

The battle against the insects on the streets of Brazil is the latest in an ancient war between humankind and the Culicidae, or mosquito, family which the pests frequently win.

Today, mosquito invaders are turning up with increasing regularity from Washington DC to Strasbourg, challenging the notion that the diseases they carry will remain confined to the tropics, scientists documenting the cases told Reuters.

Read the complete story at Reuters.com

Sexual transmission of Zika virus more common than previously thought: WHO

GENEVA — The World Health Organization says reports from several countries suggest that sexual transmission of the Zika virus is more common than previously thought.After a meeting of its emergency committee on Tuesday, the U.N. health agency also said there is increasing evidence that a spike in disturbing birth defects is caused by Zika, which is mostly spread by mosquito bites.Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said “reports and investigations in several countries strongly suggest that sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously assumed.”The agency last month said the outbreak in the Americas constitutes a global emergency.

See original story

The Verge: Zika virus can cause severe neurological disorder, scientists say

Scientists say they’ve confirmed that the Zika virus can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare but severe neurological disorder that kills 5 percent of people who develop it. Authorities in countries with a Zika outbreak should make sure they have enough intensive care beds to deal with an increase of patients with Guillain-Barré.
In a 2013 outbreak, 32,000 people were assessed for a suspected Zika infection in

French Polynesia. That’s where today’s study subjects came from. Almost all 42 patients with Guillain-Barré had signs of a recent Zika infection in their blood. In addition, 37 of those patients said that they had symptoms of Zika six days before they experienced symptoms of Guillain-Barré. The results suggest that Zika should be added to the list of infectious pathogens that can cause Guillain-Barré, the researchers write in The Lancet.

"Until now, everything was anecdotal," says Lee Norman, an intelligence officer in disaster medicine planning in the United States Army National Guard, who didn’t work on the study. This is "the first time that I've had confidence that there’s a definitive link between Zika and Guillain-Barré syndrome."

Read the rest of the story at The Verge

If condoms are OK for Zika, why not Aids, Pope Francis?

Barbara Ellen, op-ed in The Guardian:
Pope Francis has indicated that the Catholic church is prepared to condoneartificial contraception to avoid pregnancy in response to the Zika virus, believed to be spread primarily by mosquitoes (though also possibly by sexual contact). Zika is suspected to be the cause of thousands of cases of microcephaly (unusually small heads) and other severe birth abnormalities and conditions, leading desperate women to rush to terminate pregnancies in heavily affected areas such as South America. Many women affected by Zika have been begging for help from outside aid agencies.

Read the rest of this opinion

First Zika virus case confirmed in North Carolina

RALEIGH (WTVD) --

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that a state resident who has recently travelled outside of the country has been confirmed to have the Zika virus.

It's the first confirmed case of Zika in North Carolina. Officials said the person was in a country where there is active Zika virus transmission.

Full story at ABC11