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CIDRAP- More evidence of Zika-GBS link as funding talks stall

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  • CIDRAP- More evidence of Zika-GBS link as funding talks stall

    Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...ng-talks-stall

    More evidence of Zika-GBS link as funding talks stall
    Filed Under:
    Zika
    Stephanie Soucheray | News Reporter | CIDRAP News
    | Sep 07, 2016
    The World Health Organization (WHO) today described more evidence that shows the connection between Zika virus infection and severe illnesses, including microcephaly. The causality statement comes 1 day after the Senate failed to pass a bill that would provide Zika funding.
    In other news, Miami Beach is preparing to begin aerial spraying of naled, while a Zika messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine gets funding.
    WHO: Zika triggers GBS

    Today the WHO updated its Mar 31 causality statement on the relationship between Zika and congenital brain abnormalities (including microcephaly) and between Zika and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). A panel of experts said that Zika infections during pregnancy cause microcephaly and can trigger GBS in some patients.
    The panel looked at 72 studies on congenital brain abnormalities and Zika and concluded that there is a temporal association between Zika virus exposure and microcephaly incidence in the first trimester. There is also evidence that co-infection with dengue virus and other congenital infections could increase the risk for Zika-associated microcephaly.
    In 36 studies concerning Zika and GBS, the panel found that a temporal relationship between the infections existed. The panel based its findings on several studies originating out of French Polynesia, which saw a spike in GBS cases after Zika first appeared in 2013.
    "A study comparing hospitalized patients with and without GBS found that the odds of having recent Zika virus infection were more than 30 times higher in the patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome," the experts wrote. "Several other infections that can trigger GBS were excluded, though many of the patients also had antibody reactivity to dengue viruses. The number of cases of GBS fell as the Zika virus outbreak ended."
    The panel did note, however, that not all countries or regions with a high number of Zika cases have seen a similar rise in GBS.
    The panel identified key limitations that research still needs to clarify: "Zika virus alone may not be sufficient to cause either congenital brain abnormalities or GBS... Nor is it known whether dengue virus plays a part," the statement concludes.
    Congress blocks Zika funding again

    Yesterday senators failed to pass a $1.1 billion support package that would provide funding for Zika on their first day back from summer recess. This is the third time legislators have failed to provide funding for the mosquito-borne illness, now being locally transmitted in various parts of Florida.
    President Obama first proposed $1.9 billion for Zika emergency funding in February. Since then, Congress has repeatedly failed to pass a bill that would provide funding, with both sides of the aisle blaming each other for "poisoning" the proposed funds by wrapping them up in bills that contained language on hot-button issues, such as Planned Parenthood funding or displaying the Confederate flag.
    Congress has until the end of the month to pass a budget for next year. Last week, Tom Frieden, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the agency was nearly out of the $222 million it had allocated to fight Zika.
    "The cupboard is bare," Frieden was quoted as saying in the Washington Post. "Basically, we're out of money, and we need Congress to act to allow us to respond effectively.
    Miami Beach prepares for spraying

    According to the Miami Herald today, Florida lawmakers were angry with the Senate, as the community of Miami Beach announced it will begin aerial spraying with naled tomorrow morning to help reduce mosquito populations in a neighborhood where active transmission of Zika is taking place.
    Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has been an outspoken opponent of aerial spraying, saying there's little evidence it helps deter Aedes mosquitoes. But after mosquito counts in Miami Beach rose following heavy rainfall from Hurricane Hermine last week, the city said it had no choice but to move forward with the measure.
    Moderna moves forward with vaccine

    Finally today, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced an $8.2 million contract award to Moderna Therapeutics. The Massachusetts-based company will use the money to develop a Zika mRNA vaccine.
    "We believe our mRNA vaccine technology offers potential advantages in efficacy, speed of development, and production scalability and reliability, which may position Moderna as a leader in preparing for and responding to infectious disease threats, such as Zika, that place millions of people at risk around the world," said Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a press release.
    According to HHS, the vaccine carries specific genetic codes to parts of targeted cells, triggering an immune response. And unlike vaccines based on attenuated or weakened viruses, mRNA vaccines go through the development process fairly rapidly.
    See also:
    Sep 7 WHO causality statement
    Aug 30 Washington Post story
    Aug 31 CIDRAP news story "With more Zika in Florida, lack of funding underscored"
    Sep 7 Miami Herald story
    Sep 7 HHS press release
    Sep 7 Moderna press release




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