LONDON (AP) — Researchers are trying to infect mosquitoes in Brazil and Colombia with a type of bacteria that could prevent them from spreading the Zika virus and other dangerous diseases. British and American governments are teaming up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.K.-based Wellcome Trust to expand field tests in … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Zika
Zika travel advisory issued for 11 Southeast Asia countries
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are advising pregnant women to postpone travel to 11 countries in Southeast Asia because of Zika outbreaks in the region. The advisory issued Thursday, Sept.29, targets travel to Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The Centers for Disease Control and … Continue reading
Where’s Zika going next? Maybe China, India, or Nigeria
LONDON (AP) — Scientists trying to predict the future path of Zika say that 2.6 billion people living in parts of Asia and Africa could be at risk of infection, based on a new analysis of travel, climate and mosquito patterns in those regions. Some of the most vulnerable countries include India, China, the Philippines, … Continue reading
Where’s Zika going next? Maybe China, India, or Nigeria
LONDON (AP) — Scientists trying to predict the future path of Zika say that 2.6 billion people living in parts of Asia and Africa could be at risk of infection, based on a new analysis of travel, climate and mosquito patterns in those regions. Some of the most vulnerable countries include India, China, the Philippines, … Continue reading
Florida finds Zika in trapped mosquitoes, 1st in US mainland
MIAMI (AP) — Authorities in Florida said Thursday they have found the Zika virus in three groups of trapped mosquitoes in Miami Beach, the first time this has happened in the continental US. The Zika-carrying mosquitoes were trapped in a touristy 1.5-square-mile area of Miami Beach that had been identified as an active zone of … Continue reading
FDA expands Zika screening to all US blood centers
WASHINGTON (AP) â The Food and Drug Administration wants all U.S. blood centers to start screening for Zika, a major expansion intended to protect the nation’s blood supply from the mosquito-borne virus. Friday’s advisory means all U.S. states and territories will need to begin testing blood donations for Zika. Previously, the FDA had limited the … Continue reading
Zika Birth Defects
WASHINGTON (AP) — Researchers are beginning a study of up to 10,000 pregnant women in Puerto Rico, Brazil and other Zika-hit parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, to better understand the virus’ threat. The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced the study Tuesday, saying researchers will enroll participants starting in the first trimester and compare the birth … Continue reading
Malaria-proof mosquito? Tool promising but needs more study
WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful new technology holds the promise of rapidly altering genes to make malaria-proof mosquitoes, eliminate their Zika-carrying cousins or wipe out an invasive species. It’s like hijacking evolution, a way to spread genetic change through insects, animals or plants faster than nature can, but a report Wednesday says these “gene drives” … Continue reading
Baby born in US to Honduran mom with Zika has birth defect
A Honduran woman infected with Zika gave birth in New Jersey to a baby girl with birth defects caused by the virus, her doctor said Wednesday. The infant is the second born in the United States with birth defects from the mosquito-borne virus. The first was born in Hawaii to a woman who had lived … Continue reading
UN health agency rejects call to postpone Rio Olympics
BERLIN (AP) — The World Health Organization on Saturday May 27 , rejected a call from 150 health experts to consider postponing or moving the Rio Summer Olympics due to the Zika virus in hard-hit Brazil, arguing that the shift would make no significant difference to the spread of the virus. The U.N. health agency, … Continue reading
Virginia ramping up efforts to prevent spread of Zika virus
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — With the summer mosquito season fast approaching and anxiety about the Zika virus growing, Virginia officials are racing to educate the public and distribute 10,000 Zika prevention kits to pregnant women. The kits, which will be provided through health care providers, include a small bottle of mosquito repellent, educational materials, and … Continue reading
Trying to get jump on Zika preparations with money in limbo
WASHINGTON (AP) — Beg, borrow and steal: Zika preparation involves a bit of all three as federal, state and local health officials try to get a jump on the mosquito-borne virus while Congress haggles over how much money they really need. With that financing in limbo, health officials are shifting resources and setting priorities — … Continue reading
Senate approves Zika funds, tricky talks ahead with House
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved its $1.1 billion plan to combat the Zika virus. That sets the stage for difficult negotiations with House Republicans over how much money to devote to fighting Zika and whether to cut Ebola funding to help pay for it. The 68-30 vote added the Zika measure to an … Continue reading
Tell the FDA what you fear more: Zika, or GMO mosquitoes?
MIAMI (AP) — What are you more afraid of, the Zika virus, or genetically engineered bugs being released in the wild? If you feel strongly about this issue, you have until midnight Friday, May 20th to make your opinion known as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers whether to approve an effort to kill … Continue reading
House to debate scaled-back Zika bill despite veto threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans controlling the House are ignoring protests from Democrats and a White House veto threat as they speed legislation funding the battle against the Zika virus toward a vote this week. The $622 million GOP plan would provide one-third of the resources requested three months ago by President Barack Obama to combat … Continue reading