zika

An unnamed individual in Utah has been reported to be carrying the Zika virus, but no one is quite sure how the virus was transmitted to the person. Experts are already clear that Zika transmits through mosquito bites and sexual contact with someone who is infected with the virus. They are also certain that the virus is tied to microcephaly in unborn babies. However, this case is incredibly unusual, because the person has no known risk factors for developing the virus.

Scientists studying the Zika virus have been aware that an infected man can spread the Zika virus to a female through unprotected sex. But what we didn’t know for sure, until now, is that a female can actually spread the virus to male partners. This is what happened recent when a female in her 20s spread the Zika virus to her male partner through a sexual encounter.

US Health officials have become increasingly concerned by the rate Zika is spreading in the territory of Puerto Rico. The disease is spreading so quickly, that it is claimed as many as 50 pregnant women a day are becoming infected. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control is urging Puerto Rico to spray the affected area with pesticides.

Utah health officials have confirmed that an elderly woman who passed away in late June has died after contracting the Zika virus. The unnamed woman did not contract the virus in the United States, but had traveled to a country where Zika was known to be. The woman also had many underlying health issues that likely contributed to her death in addition to the infection.
Health officials in Utah, however, state that there is no immediate risk in Utah for the Zika virus if one has not traveled to a country where it is prevalent.

With the Olympics taking place in Brazil, one of the hotbeds for Zika activity, researchers will be monitoring exposure on a small sample of Olympic and Paralympic athletes participating in the games as well as staff members accompanying them. Funded by NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the study hopes to help researchers understand why some people are infected with Zika, while others are not, in addition to the various effects that take hold in different people’s bodies.

California cannabis, Pepsi aspartame and the 40-year-old Twinkie + this day in history w/the derecho and our song of the day by Cymbals Eat Guitars on your Morning Monarchy for June 29, 2016.

Ten pregnant women in the Dallas area are suspected to have Zika. None of them have developed it from a mosquito bite while in Texas, but all have travelled to Zika-infected countries within the past several months.
Health officials have confirmed that there are more than a dozen cases in North Texas alone. This is particularly concerning, as the virus can spread by a mosquito biting an infected individual and then biting another person, thus carrying the infection.

Two pharmaceutical companies have confirmed that human trials for a Zika vaccine will begin within the next few weeks. However, they have confirmed that actual vaccines may not be available for mass consumption for another year or so. [1]
Several companies have competed in a bid to win the right to be the first to test the newfound Zika vaccine on humans. Pennsylvania’s Inovio Pharmaceuticals and South Korea’s GeneOne Life Sciences have been granted access to the first studies due to their success with the vaccine in testing on animals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the Olympics taking place in Rio this summer due to the Zika outbreak. They will be holding an emergency panel this month to discuss the pros and cons of going ahead with the Olympics in its original location this August.

Hemp hemp hooray, water cheats and Oregon oil + this day in history w/USS Liberty and our song of the day by Weaves on your Morning Monarchy for June 8, 2016.