Haiti - Two Microcephaly Cases Confirmed in Haitian Newborns - August 9, 2016

[sharon sanders]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Rollins, Chief Communications Officer rrollins@pih.org Two Microcephaly Cases Confirmed in Haitian Newborns Children Born a Few Weeks Apart at Partners In Health Hospital in Mirebalais BOSTON (August 9, 2016) – Partners In Health and Zanmi Lasante, its sister organization in Haiti, today confirmed two cases of microcephaly in newborns in Haiti. The children were born just weeks apart this summer at University Hospital Mirebalais, Haiti, a Partners In Health–supported public health hospital. Blood samples from both newborns have been submitted to the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) in Haiti to investigate a possible connection to the Zika virus. “The birth of two children with microcephaly, just weeks apart, has made our team even more alert to what is likely a major underestimation of the spread of the Zika virus in Haiti,” said Dr. Louise Ivers, senior health and policy advisor and an infectious disease expert at Partners In Health, who is leading the organization’s Zika efforts with her colleagues in Haiti. “As we watch Zika virus epidemics move through South America, the Caribbean and now transmission occurring within the United States, the connectedness of the world feels more evident.” “The impact of this disease is greatest amongst the poorest communities,” Dr. Ivers continued. “We at Partners In Health will continue to do our part to treat patients who exhibit Zika-related illnesses, support children born with congenital disabilities and work to the best of our ability with the Haitian government, affected communities and world organizations to prevent more transmission of the virus.” “Like cholera and chikungunya, Zika is real. We have to do whatever it takes to protect the environment, our patients and our staff – especially women and children,” said Loune Viaud, Zanmi Lasante’s co-executive director. Partners In Health in Haiti – Zanmi Lasante – worked with officials from MSPP and representatives from the Pan American Health Organization, the World Bank and several international nongovernmental organizations to create an action plan to address Zika in Haiti in early 2016. That plan includes six main target areas: epidemiologic surveillance, social communication and mobilization, family planning, vector-borne disease control, clinical management, and monitoring and evaluation. “Strong health systems are the proven way to manage emerging diseases such as Zika,” said Partners In Health CEO Dr. Gary Gottlieb. “That is why we work with governments and other partners in Haiti and around the world to build and maintain health infrastructures that will contain or mitigate emerging diseases where they start so that we can protect all communities from global public health threats.” Click here to watch a July 27, 2016, interview with Dr. Ivers on the Zika virus in Haiti. Learn more about the Partners In Health work here. https://t.e2ma.net/message/focfn/79f2ls

[sharon sanders]

Please see:

Cuba - 30 imported cases of Zika virus, 1 local

Haiti Cholera 2016: 22k cases with 210 fatalities

Zika-related microcephaly case confirmed in Florida - a citizen of Haiti came to Florida to deliver her baby

Washington state - Des Moines teen tests positive for Zika after first blood sample tossed

Concern in Haiti over emerging condition linked to Zika

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Two cases of microcephaly in Mirebalais, the MSPP investigates

8/13/2016 7:15:00 Author (s) The Editor
...
MSPP awaits the test results ...

"A MSPP team was on site to take samples from mothers and babies. Specimens were sent abroad so that we can really confirm if this is due to microcephaly zika in the baby. We don't have the result yet, "said Dr. Daphnee Delsoin, Minister of Public Health and Population.

In regard to the underestimation of the expansion of zika in Haiti, the Minister said that there was "perhaps an underestimate" because the sentinel of the MSPP in the departments do not automatic screening zika of pregnant women. "The screaming is not done on a systematic basis for all patients," she added, noting that the MSSP's will see how "to offer screening to all pregnant women." "I am fighting so that we can offer screening zika during prenatal consultations," said Minister Daphne Delsoin.

"In terms of support, it will be a bit difficult because we have no real alternative," said she said, indicating that the MSPP, the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to fumigation . The spread awareness spots will continue, said the Minister of Health said that waiting for the result of the analyzes.

Roberson Alphonse
Source Le Nouvelliste

http://www.radiotelevisioncaraibes.com/nouvelles/sante/deux_cas_de_microc_phalie_mirebalais_le_mspp_enqu_te.html

[Pathfinder]

HEALTH NEWS | Tue Aug 16, 2016 8:42pm EDT

Haiti finds case of microcephaly linked to Zika virus

By Makini Brice | PORT-AU-PRINCE

Haiti has identified its first case of the birth defect microcephaly linked to the Zika virus, a senior health ministry official said on Tuesday.

Gabriel Thimothe, director general at the ministry of public health and population, said the case was confirmed on Saturday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Haiti has confirmed 14 cases of the birth defect since March, up from previous reports of two cases, Raymond Grand Pierre, the director of the Department of Health and Family in the Ministry of Health, said.
...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-haiti-idUSKCN10R2N1