It seems the Zika virus is showing no signs of slowing in Brazil, where researchers have found that the virus is present even in many house mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, known as Culex, are the most common and have been spotted in the city of Recife. While it has been confirmed that Culex are carrying the potentially deadly virus, scientists say that more studies need to be done in order to determine if the Culex can indeed spread the virus. [1]
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.
Two people were bitten by a black mammal at a Walmart in Westerly, Rhode Island, on July 4. Neither of the individuals have come forward, and authorities are trying to hunt them down for fear of their lives.
The incident occurred inside or near the store between 4 and 5 p.m., according to a statement released by the state Health Department. The warning was released jointly with the Department of Environmental Management.
Hemisphere Project, Data To Go and Jupiter's Juno + this day in history w/"That's All Right" and our song of the day by The Strokes on your Morning Monarchy for July 5, 2016.
Vermont health officials have confirmed that the first case of West Nile virus in a human since 2013 has recently been diagnosed. The infected individual is currently being kept anonymous, however, we do know that he/she lives in Windsor County, Vermont and contracted the virus in mid-June. Health officials in Pennsylvania also confirm that a woman has been diagnosed with what they state as a “probable” case of West Nile virus in Indiana County.
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.
