NPR: Update On The Spread Of The Zika Virus In The U.S. with Osterholm, Fauci, Alvarez, Goodman - Today August 3 at 10 am ET

[sharon sanders]

Wednesday, Aug 03 2016 ? 10 a.m. (ET)

Update On The Spread Of The Zika Virus In The U.S.

• Twitter
• FB
• Discus

The CDC has issued an unprecedented travel warning for part of Miami, where more than 10 new cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed. What?s causing the virus to spread in one South Florida neighborhood and how officials are responding.


Guests

• Dr. Anthony Fauci director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
• Dr. Michael Osterholm regents professor and director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota; frequent consultant to the WHO, NIH, CDC and FDA; member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations
• Lizette Alvarez Miami bureau chief, The New York Times
• Phil Goodman chair, Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board

https://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-08-03/update-on-the-spread-of-the-zika-virus-in-the-u-s

hat tip @greg_folkers

[sharon sanders]

Notes:

Fauci: Confirms 15th local case. It is within the 1 mile zone already described where the initial 14 are located.

Fauci: Given that over 1600 travel related cases in the US + the Aedes aegypti mosquito is in much of the US a Zika cluster is not unexpected.

Fauci: Confirms the Miami cluster of 15 is local mosquito transmitted.

Fauci: Miami area health officials doing urine tests of the cases contacts, plus testing inside the infection zone. The participants were willing and not tested against their wishes.

Alvarez: Local citizens are generally not concerned due to mild symptoms in most people.

Irina Burd M.D. link Spoke briefly.

Fauci: GBS is a complication that can be caused by Zika. A very rare condition.

Fauci: There is no general travel ban to Florida. People are the carriers, not the mosquitoes.

Goodman: Aedes aegypti likes to hang around people. Low to the ground. Very hard to eradicate.

Fauci: Lack of new US funding for ZIka is very frustrating. HHS/CDC is taking money from other accounts to fund effort. Now out of money to re-direct.

Burd: Babies in affected area should take standard CDC anti-mosquito bite precautions. Screens, air conditioning, nets, long sleeves, etc.

Fauci: Says DEET is safe. "Prudent" to use now. (for babies that are more than 2 months old).

Burd: Mentions EPA list for child safe repellents.

Fauci: So far evidence does not indicate infants are negatively affected by Zika infection - but don't know for sure. Doing various studies now.

Osterholm: This is a journey. We are on the 1st leg. Other locations in Florida will be affected. Clusters here and there as travelers from Americas arrive.

Osterholm: We do not have evidence that young children or older adults are badly affected by Zika. GBS can be a complication.

Burd: Different stages of gestation when infected with Zika can possibly result in different disabilities.

Burd. There are other fetal complications that may result if Zika is in the placenta.

Goodman: All products being used to kill mosquitoes are EPA approved. Adulticides and lavacides are being used.

Goodman: Experimenting with other products but not in use at this time. Use material data sheet materials to safely apply chemicals.

Osterholm: Need to keep focused on what will make the biggest difference. The biggest challenge is pesticide resistance, water sources, garbage, plastic containers, etc.

Burd: Per CDC guidelines, get Zika testing if pregnant and recently traveled from a Zika endemic area.

Burd: Says no evidence of Zika transmission in breast feeding.

Osterholm: Zika is in a class by itself due to sexual transmission, plus mosquito transmission.

Osterholm. There are no commercial ZIka vaccines available. It will be years. Not the solution.

Osterholm: Releasing genetically modified mosquitoes is not a "high utility" tool. Would need to carpet an area to affect aedes aegypti since they do not fly more than a few hundred meters from their birth area.

Burd: Follow CDC recommendations for getting pregnant after a Zika infection: wait 8 weeks for women, 6 months for men

Osterholm: Has not seen any study that proves that baby oil protects against mosquitoes. Does not recommend this.

Burd: Follow CDC/EPA recommendations for insect repellents.

Osterholm: Aedes aegypti is the Norway rat of mosquito. Loves to live with people. Often in the closets. Spraying from airplane and trucks alone may not be enough.


End of show.