Zika, there are 100 locally acquired mosquito-borne cases reported in the United States, but Travel-associated cases reported are over 3,713 (and counting according to the *CDC Stats. Include US Territories, and you can add 24,118 (30 days early only 14,000) more cases most from Puerto Rico. (https://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united-states.html) (Note when I starting writing this post on 9/4/16, there were only 35 locally and 2,686.)
The History Of Zika | Do You Fear Zika | How does Zika Spread | Don’t Fear The Zika
Side note: I had been working on a four-part article ready to post about Zika. At the time, it was in the local news daily. Fear mongering was high, and I didn’t want to have influence on the mass media. Not by any personal research I did, so wanted to do more research on Zika. Around September 4th, I thought I had it ready. Then more questions about Zika came up that need to be answered. So I have waited a month, in that time, we are no closer to real answers.
Mosquitoes are said to be the deadliest insect in the world. Not because they are venomous or attack in the millions. No, it’s due to their ability to carry and spread a disease to humans. These are called Vector-borne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) says Vector-borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases; with over a million deaths annually.
Mosquitoes Vectors are known to cause Chikungunya, Dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, Yellow fever, and Zika.
In 2015, malaria alone caused 438 000 deaths. February 23, 2016 “¹WHO estimates 3 million to 4 million people across the Americas will be infected with the virus in the next year.”
Year to date: we’re are not there with Zika virus and that is good news. Considering it is now found in every state via people traveling to the US.
Why is there so much fear associated with Zika? It easy to understand, when a simple bite from an Aedes Aegypti mosquito could lead to a disease associated with a neurological birth disorder. Scary!
Key facts
~ Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedesmosquitoes.
~ People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.
~ There is scientific consensus that **Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated.
~Zika virus Fact sheet Updated June 2, 2016
The History Of Zika | Do You Fear Zika | How does Zika Spread | Don’t Fear The Zika
**Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly: there is controversy over this, right now It seem like the only place October 2015 Brazil reported an association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly.
The History Of Zika | Do You Fear Zika | How does Zika Spread | Don’t Fear The Zika
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If you are not traveling to the tropics or live in the south, then Zika may be something far from your mind or thoughts. Living in the South, South Florida to be precise, Zike makes the news daily here.
This past month, I’ve watched the news and the progression of the Zika Virus fear move from Miami to Tampa then North Port. This past week someone is reported with the Zika Virus via travel-associated cases in my home city.
The media is running rampant with what to do to protect yourself from Zika. Local media says use products with DEET, have no standing water. They also interviewed experts, doctors, city managers, and city officials and Mosquito Control…all saying why this area is ripe for breeding Aedes aegypti mosquito. These are the very same breeding conditions basically for every other sort of bug, frog, and creeping-crawling-thing that you find in Florida.
Yet here in the States, travel-associated cases are high in:
| Florida Zika | 507 |
| California . | 152 |
| New York .. | 625 |
| TexasZika | 136 |
But as of this post, only Florida locally acquired cases
| Florida | 507 (19) | 35 (100) |
Not only did this get me drawing a Mental Health Humor cartoon about Zika, but it has me doing research on something that is hitting so close to home. That is one thing that helped me deal with some of my fears, just like mental health education stomps out stigma. The same is true with ZIKA, but we don’t stomp it out, it more of a smack it out.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito bite during the day, but that does not mean other mosquitos won’t fill in the gaps and bite. So, prevention is going to be the key and when in doubt DEET will do it.
In most cases, there are no symptoms. In a few cases, Zika can trigger paralysis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome). In pregnant women, it may cause subsequent birth defects. When present, symptoms are mild and last less than a week.
They include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. There’s no vaccine or specific treatment. Instead the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes rest, rehydration, and acetaminophen for fever and pain. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen should be avoided. ~ Google Search
https://www.gstatic.com/healthricherkp/pdf/zika_fever.pdf
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Mental Health Humor by Chato Stewart
“Aedes aegypti mosquito Wanted for the spread of Zika Virus.”
First, it was Yellow fever, then malaria. Darn Right-Wing media!
Billion to study and develop a vaccine for Zika. This is the political, and what is being paid for is a hot topic. “CDC wants $1.9 billion to study and develop a vaccine from a virus that has NEVER been shown to cause microcephaly” ~ Dr. David Brownstein
Does Zika need to be studied? Yes. Could Zika be causing microcephaly? Doubtful. We are not seeing an epidemic of microcephaly in any other area of the world other than a small area of Brazil. We should study this area of Brazil and see why they are having a rise in fetal disorders. As I stated in the previous blog about this, this same area of Brazil is where pregnant mothers were vaccinated with MMR and whole cell DPT vaccine. Furthermore, they were also exposed to insecticides and pesticides. Maybe one of these items is responsible for the microcephaly problems.
In the Miami, Fl, thanks to manufactured hysteria by the CDC, we are now spraying toxic pesticides to kill mosquitos in Zika-infested areas. What is that pesticide? It is Naled. (3) The same Dr. Frieden from the CDC stated, “We are very encouraged by the initial results, which showed a large proportion of the mosquitoes killed.” ~ Dr. David Brownstein
http://blog.drbrownstein.com/zika-schmika-part-ii-the-story-gets-worse/
Reference
¹Sandee LaMotte, CNN (February 23, 2016). 5 things you need to know about Zika. Retrieved on September 4, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/health/zika-what-you-need-to-know/
²The National : Associated Press (9/1/2016).South East Asia on Zika alert as Singapore infections mount. Retrieved on September 4, 2016, from http://www.thenational.ae/world/southeast-asia/south-east-asia-on-zika-alert-as-singapore-infections-mount
²The National : Associated Press (9/1/2016).South East Asia on Zika alert as Singapore infections mount. Retrieved on September 4, 2016, from http://www.thenational.ae/world/southeast-asia/south-east-asia-on-zika-alert-as-singapore-infections-mount
²Who (June 2, 2016).South East Asia on Zika alert as Singapore infections mount. Retrieved on September 4, 2016, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
Zika virus Fact sheet Updated
*CDC Stats:
US States
- Locally acquired mosquito-borne cases reported: 35
- Travel-associated cases reported: 2,686
- Laboratory acquired cases reported: 1
- Total: 2,722
- Sexually transmitted: 23
- Guillain-Barré syndrome: 7
US Territories
- Locally acquired cases reported: 14,059
- Travel-associated cases reported: 51
- Total: 14,110*
- Guillain-Barré syndrome: 32