• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Puerto Rico: 19,967 confirmed cases of Zika including 1,706 pregnant women

Ronan Kelly

Ronan Kelly

Retired 2020
Puerto Rico Reports Its First Mosquito-Borne Zika Case
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ? Dec 31, 2015, 3:22 PM ET

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is reporting its first case of Zika, a dengue-like virus transmitted by mosquitoes.

Health Secretary Ana Rius said Thursday that the unidentified patient had not traveled recently and lives in the island's eastern region.
...
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/puerto-rico-reports-mosquito-borne-zika-case-36035856

Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions
What is the current situation?

In December 2015, a locally transmitted case of Zika virus infection was detected in Puerto Rico. This is the first case of Zika virus in Puerto Rico. Local transmission means that mosquitoes in Puerto Rico have been infected with Zika virus, spreading it to humans.

CDC recommends that travelers to affected areas in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, or Mexico protect themselves from mosquito bites. Zika outbreaks have been identified recently in several countries in Central and South America. The outbreak began in Brazil in May. Recently, the Ministry of Health in Brazil has raised concerns about a possible association between the Zika virus outbreak and increased numbers of babies born with birth defects. For this reason, pregnant women should take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
...
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/zika-virus-puerto-rico
 
Zika virus arrives in Puerto Rico
By Mariana Cobian
12/31/2015 | 04: 46 pm
...
State epidemiologist Brenda Rivera Garcia, told this newspaper that a man over 65, resident of the eastern region of the island and no recent travel history, is the first person to test positive for the virus in Puerto Rico . He clarified, however, that is stable and has recovered.
"The person has other conditions and is the finding by coincidence. Not that sought necessarily, but he runs the show and is positive. There had recently traveled, so it must have been (infected) here," he reiterated Rivera Garcia said in a telephone interview.
...
http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/virusdelzikallegaapuertorico-1129369/
 
Puerto Rico confirms 18 Zika virus cases

Published January 26, 2016 Associated Press

3:00 p.m.

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is reporting a jump in the number of mosquito-borne Zika virus cases.

Health Secretary Ana Rius says there are 18 confirmed cases, though none involve pregnant women. Brazilian officials have linked the tropical illness to birth defects.

Puerto Rico epidemiologist Brenda Rivera said Tuesday the majority of cases are in the island's southeast region. She says many of the victims are elderly.

Officials said they are testing more than 200 other potential Zika cases that have tested negative to dengue and chikungunya.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/01/26/puerto-rico-confirms-18-zika-virus-cases.html
 
The Latest: Man in Puerto Rico With Zika Has Guillain-Barre

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFEB. 4, 2016, 4:22 P.M. E.S.T.


RIO DE JANEIRO ? The Latest on the mosquito-born Zika virus, which is suspected of causing brain deformities in babies (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Health officials in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico say a man infected with the Zika virus is suffering from a temporary paralysis condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Health Secretary Ana Rius said Thursday that the man is between 30 and 40 years old and developed the paralysis about two weeks after he broke out in a rash. She did not provide any other details.

Puerto Rico also is reporting its first case of a pregnant woman with Zika. Rius said she is between 25 and 35 years old and is in her first trimester.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday declared Zika a global public health emergency after it was linked to brain deformities in babies in South America.

Puerto Rico has 22 confirmed Zika cases.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/02/04/world/americas/ap-zika-virus-the-latest.html
 
Zika Outbreak Updates: Puerto Rico Declares State of Emergency
  • By GILLIAN MOHNEY
Feb 5, 2016, 2:53 PM ET

...
Puerto Rico Declares State of Emergency

Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing Zika virus outbreak. The U.S. territory has at least 22 people who have been reported to have been infected with the Zika virus, health officials said.

The State Emergency and Disaster Administration is creating a task force for both federal and state officials to deal with the crisis.
Additionally, a price freeze has been ordered for products needed to prevent the disease, according to government officials.

New Zika Virus Cases Include Pregnant Woman, Man With Paralysis Syndrome

In Puerto Rico, a pregnant woman in her first trimester was diagnosed with the disease, health officials said. In addition, a man has also been diagnosed with Zika and has developed a rare paralysis syndrome sometimes associated with viral or bacterial infection.

Called Guillain-Barre syndrome, it is an immunological reaction that has been associated with influenza, among other illnesses.
...
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-vi...ry?id=36737501
 
U.S. CDC sees potential widespread Zika virus in Puerto Rico

Source: Reuters - Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:50 GMT

Feb 10 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday told a Congressional hearing that he expects Puerto Rico to be hard hit by the Zika virus outbreak.

"We will likely see significant numbers of cases in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden told the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on the global Zika outbreak.
...
http://news.trust.org/item/20160210195233-6sbod
 
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Local Transmission of Zika Virus — Puerto Rico, November 23, 2015–January 28, 2016

Early Release / February 12, 2016 / 65(6);1–6



Dana L. Thomas, MD1,2; Tyler M. Sharp, PhD3; Jomil Torres, MS1; Paige A. Armstrong, MD4; Jorge Munoz-Jordan, PhD3; Kyle R. Ryff, MPH1; Alma Martinez-Qui?ones, MPH5; Jos? Arias-Berr?os, MD6; Marrielle Mayshack1,7; Glenn J. Garayalde, MD8; Sonia Saavedra, MD, PhD8; Carlos A. Luciano, MD6; Miguel Valencia-Prado5; Steve Waterman, MD3; Brenda Rivera-Garc?a, DVM1 (View author affiliations)
View suggested citation



Zika virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, spread to the Region of the Americas (Americas) in mid-2015, and appears to be related to congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barr? syndrome (1,2). On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the occurrence of microcephaly cases in association with Zika virus infection to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.* On December 31, 2015, Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) reported the first locally acquired (index) case of Zika virus disease in a jurisdiction of the United States in a patient from southeastern Puerto Rico. During November 23, 2015–January 28, 2016, passive and enhanced surveillance for Zika virus disease identified 30 laboratory-confirmed cases. Most (93%) patients resided in eastern Puerto Rico or the San Juan metropolitan area. The most frequently reported signs and symptoms were rash (77%), myalgia (77%), arthralgia (73%), and fever (73%). Three (10%) patients were hospitalized. One case occurred in a patient hospitalized for Guillain-Barr? syndrome, and one occurred in a pregnant woman. Because the most common mosquito vector of Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is present throughout Puerto Rico, Zika virus is expected to continue to spread across the island. The public health response in Puerto Rico is being coordinated by PRDH with assistance from CDC. Clinicians in Puerto Rico should report all cases of microcephaly, Guillain-Barr? syndrome, and suspected Zika virus disease to PRDH. Other adverse reproductive outcomes, including fetal demise associated with Zika virus infection, should be reported to PRDH. To avoid infection with Zika virus, residents of and visitors to Puerto Rico, particularly pregnant women, should strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, and ensuring that windows and doors have intact screens.

In November 2015, PRDH, with assistance from CDC, initiated surveillance for Zika virus disease in Puerto Rico by modifying the existing Passive Dengue Surveillance System (3) to include suspected Zika virus disease. Patients in whom a clinician suspected Zika virus disease were reported by sending a serum specimen with a modified dengue case investigation form.† In January 2016, PRDH initiated enhanced surveillance for Zika virus disease by performing Zika virus testing on specimens submitted during November 2015–January 2016 that had tested negative for dengue or chikungunya.

Specimens collected within 7 days of illness onset were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with updated primers to detect Zika virus RNA. Specimens collected ≥4 days after illness onset were tested by immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect serologic evidence of recent Zika virus infection. Laboratory-confirmed Zika virus disease cases were defined as detection of either Zika virus RNA by RT-PCR, or anti-Zika virus IgM antibody by ELISA with a simultaneous negative anti-dengue virus IgM antibody test.
Top​
Epidemiology and Laboratory Investigations

During November 23, 2015–January 28, 2016, a total of 155 suspected Zika virus disease cases were identified in Puerto Rico, including 82 reported through passive surveillance, and 73 specimens tested through the enhanced surveillance protocol. Overall, 30 (19%) cases had laboratory confirmation of Zika virus disease. Among these cases, one (3%) patient had reported illness onset in November 2015 (the index patient), eight (27%) in December 2015, and 21 (70%) in January 2016. One patient with illness onset in late December reported travel to the Dominican Republic within 14 days of illness onset.

After identification of the index case, two cases were detected during the first 2 weeks of December; six cases per week were reported during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of 2016 (Figure 1). Patients resided in municipalities throughout eastern Puerto Rico and the San Juan metropolitan area, and one each resided in Ponce and Gu?nica (Figure 2). The most frequently reported symptoms were rash, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever (Table). Fever, rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis were reported in seven (23%) patients. Coinfection with influenza B virus was reported in one patient. Three (10%) patients were hospitalized: the index patient, one patient with Guillain-Barr? syndrome, and another patient who was hospitalized because of thrombocytopenia and clinical suspicion of dengue.

Index case. The first case of Zika virus disease identified in Puerto Rico occurred in a man aged 80 years from southeastern Puerto Rico with multiple chronic medical conditions, who reported onset of symptoms on November 23, 2015. Eight days after illness onset, he was evaluated in a hospital emergency department for progressive weakness after several days of watery, nonbloody diarrhea, recent episodes of falling, shoulder pain, chills, malaise, and abdominal pain. He did not report myalgia, headache, or retro-orbital pain. He was febrile, tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypotensive, with bilateral erythematous sclera. Laboratory results revealed leukocytosis with a predominance of neutrophils; hemoconcentration; thrombocytopenia; elevated serum transaminases, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine; hyponatremia; and hypoglycemia. He received a diagnosis of sepsis, was admitted to the intensive care unit for fluid resuscitation and monitoring, and was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Diagnostic considerations included leptospirosis and dengue. He experienced respiratory decompensation requiring intubation and 5 days of mechanical ventilation. He was hospitalized for 2 weeks, during which time he underwent an extensive evaluation. Blood and stool cultures were negative, as were serologic tests for human immunodeficiency virus, Leptospira, and Strongyloides. Schistosoma immunoglobulin G titers were elevated, for which praziquantel was administered. On December 2, serum was collected for dengue and chikungunya diagnostic testing, and was positive for anti-dengue virus IgM, negative for anti-chikungunya virus IgM, and negative for detection of dengue virus and chikungunya virus RNA. Because a hospital-based enhanced surveillance protocol was in place for detection of Zika virus, the same serum specimen was tested for Zika virus infection by RT-PCR with a positive result. Confirmatory molecular diagnostic testing was performed at CDC. Detection of anti-dengue virus IgM antibody likely was a result of cross-reactive anti-Zika virus IgM antibody. Although no pathogen other than Zika virus was identified, the patient’s clinical course suggests that he also had an occult bacterial infection.
Top​
Selected Additional Patients’ Characteristics

Case A. On January 13, 2016, a man aged 37 years developed a rash, which resolved over the next 2 days; the next day, he noted paresthesias in his hands and feet, followed by progressive weakness in bulbar and limb muscles and uncontrolled fluctuating hypertension consistent with dysautonomia. On medical evaluation he had bilateral facial weakness, weakness in the upper and lower limbs, and areflexia, and was hospitalized for ascending paralysis. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was elevated, and electrodiagnostic studies showed evidence of a demyelinating polyneuropathy, consistent with the acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy variant of Guillain-Barr? syndrome. The patient responded to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. A serum specimen collected 15 days after illness onset, and before administration of intravenous immunoglobulin, was positive for anti-Zika virus IgM antibody, negative for anti-dengue IgM antibody, and negative for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya virus RNA by RT-PCR. A urine specimen collected 19 days after illness onset was also negative for Zika virus RNA by RT-PCR. This is the only patient in Puerto Rico with Guillain-Barr? syndrome and confirmed Zika virus disease identified to date.

Case B. On January 22, 2016, RT-PCR–confirmed Zika virus disease was diagnosed in a woman in her first trimester of pregnancy; she had sought care because of a 2-day history of nonfebrile eye, body, and joint pain; petechial rash; conjunctivitis; and nausea. Her obstetrician provided counseling regarding risks to her fetus and recommended clinical follow-up, according to CDC interim guidelines (4).
Top​
Public Health Response

The public health response has focused on educating clinicians and the public, establishing laboratory capacity, improving epidemiologic capacity for detecting and monitoring all laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in pregnant women, and reducing risk for infection to women who are pregnant. Community cleanup campaigns are being organized throughout the island to remove standing water from containers where Aedes aegypti mosquitos might breed. Additional approaches to effective and sustainable mosquito control are being considered.

No cases of microcephaly potentially associated with Zika virus infection have been reported to PRDH. Because microcephaly was not previously captured through routine surveillance, retrospective medical record review of live births during 2013–2015 will be conducted to define the baseline annual incidence of congenital microcephaly among live births, as defined by head circumference below the third percentile for sex and gestational age (5). The Puerto Rico Birth Defects Surveillance and Prevention System (BDSPS) case definition has been modified to capture microcephaly cases not associated with another major birth defect of the central nervous system. Clinicians in Puerto Rico have been advised to report all cases of congenital microcephaly to the BDSPS. PRDH, with assistance from CDC, will maintain a registry of all pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection, who will be followed throughout their pregnancy.

Guillain-Barr? syndrome is not a reportable condition in the United States, including Puerto Rico. In conjunction with neurologists in Puerto Rico, a Guillain-Barr? syndrome surveillance system is being established to identify cases of clinically diagnosed Guillain-Barr? syndrome. . After identification of a case of clinically confirmed Guillain-Barr? syndrome, testing for arboviral and other infections will be performed. Cases of Guillain-Barr? syndrome will be further investigated to define the association between Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barr? syndrome.
Because of reports of detection of Zika virus RNA in saliva and urine (6,7), as well as reports of sexual transmission of Zika virus (8,9), patients with laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection will be followed to determine the persistence of Zika virus RNA, as well as the presence of infectious virus in saliva, urine, and semen.
Top

Discussion​

In May 2015, WHO reported the first local transmission of Zika virus in the Americas in Brazil (10). As of February 3, 2016, local transmission of Zika virus has been reported in 26 countries and territories in the Caribbean and South and Central America.?

The cases described in this report are the first documented local transmission of Zika virus in a jurisdiction of the United States. Aedes aegypti, the most common mosquito vector of Zika virus worldwide, is present throughout Puerto Rico. Therefore, Zika virus is expected to continue to spread throughout the territory, and the 3.5 million residents of Puerto Rico, including approximately 43,000 pregnant women per year, are at risk for Zika virus infection.
Approximately 80% of Zika virus infections are asymptomatic (11). The most common symptoms reported by patients in Puerto Rico with laboratory-confirmed Zika virus disease were rash, body and joint pain, and fever. Approximately 25% of patients reported all of the signs and symptoms most commonly associated with Zika virus disease: fever, rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis (11). Whether these signs and symptoms are reflective of all persons with symptomatic Zika virus infection, or represent patients with more severe disease, is unknown, as these patients had all sought medical care. This bias might be reflected in the observed rate of patient hospitalization, which was higher than expected on the basis of previous reports (11). Because symptomatic persons with less severe Zika virus disease might not have sought care, the cases reported here might underestimate the incidence of symptomatic Zika virus infection in Puerto Rico.

Clinicians in Puerto Rico should report all patients with fever, joint pain, rash, or conjunctivitis to PRDH as a suspected case of Zika virus disease if another etiology has not been identified. All patients with suspected dengue, chikungunya, or Zika virus disease from whom a specimen has been collected during the first 6 days of illness will be tested by PRDH with an assay currently under development at CDC that simultaneously tests for Zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus RNA. Because of possible complications associated with dengue, including increased vascular permeability that might lead to shock and hemorrhage, patients with suspected Zika, dengue, or chikungunya should be managed as dengue patients? until another diagnosis is established. Clinicians in Puerto Rico should also be aware of currently ongoing influenza virus transmission at epidemic levels,** and consider influenza in the differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with acute febrile illness. Current case counts of laboratory-confirmed Zika virus disease cases are available online.††

Currently, no medication or vaccine is available to treat or prevent Zika virus disease. To prevent infection, persons residing in affected areas or traveling to areas of active Zika virus transmission should strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites. Men who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms during sex, and men who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who are concerned about sexual transmission of Zika virus might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms consistently and correctly during sex.?? Mosquito-bite prevention includes using air conditioning or window and door screens when indoors, wearing long sleeves and pants, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, and using insect repellents. When used according to the product label, EPA-registered insect repellents are safe for pregnant women.?? Residents of Puerto Rico should cover, empty, or discard water containers that might serve as mosquito breeding sites (e.g., tires, plastic containers, and water cisterns). PRDH, CDC, and other partner organizations are urgently implementing broader plans for mosquito control and reduction of risk for Zika virus infection among pregnant women.
...

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/w...mm6506e2.htm_w
 
Translation Google

Zika cases are duplicated on the island

by Telenoticias
San Juan, PR

In its latest report, the Department of Health showed a rise to 63, in cases of people infected with the virus zika on the island. (Posted 7 minutes ago)

In its latest report, the Department of Health showed a rise to 63, in cases of people infected with the virus zika on the island.

"We have 63 cases accumulated since the first report of zika on the island, and among those 63 cases have three pregnant. Two of them are pregnant women entering the system this week, "the epidemiologist Brenda Rivera Garcia.

According to Garc?a Rivera, so far what percentage of infected pregnant is not known, they could have babies who develop microcephaly.

Referring to the dramatic increase in reported cases epidemiologist said that "it is expected", but stressed that "we have seen that the distribution remains mostly in the metropolitan region and the east of the island."

Posted 9 minutes ago

http://www.telemundopr.com/noticias...n-los-casos-de-Zika-en-la-isla-369369741.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diseases Weekly Report Arboviral (ArboV)
Department of Health of Puerto Rico

Data as of February 18, 2016 Week 5 (January 29 to February 4, 2016)

...
Cumulative ZIKV, 2015 & 2016

63 confirmed cases
1 patient with residence
outside Puerto Rico
4 hospitalized
3 pregnant
1 case of Guillain-Barre syndrome
0 deaths
...

http://www.salud.gov.pr/Estadistica...s Arbovirales/Reporte ArboV semana 5-2016.pdf
 
Zika-hit Puerto Rico prepares to import all of its blood supplies

Published February 19, 2016 Reuters

New guidelines barring the collection of blood in areas with outbreaks of the mosquito-borne Zika virus will be put to the test first in cash-strapped Puerto Rico, where health officials have two weeks to start importing the island's supply.
...
Local health officials fear switching to imports could undermine the island's voluntary donation network, which provides the bulk of its needs. The new guidelines will require Puerto Rico to obtain its entire supply from the continental United States at a cost of up to $100,000 a week, said Jose O. Alsina, vice president and chief operating officer of Puerto Rico's Banco de Sangre de Servicios Mutuos, the island's largest blood bank.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/...repares-to-import-all-its-blood-supplies.html
 
Telemundo Puerto Rico

Confirmed five pregnant with zika on the Island

By Nuria Sebazco

(Published Friday February 26, 2016)

Secretary of the Department of Health, Ana Rius, reported that so far have been reported in Puerto Rico 117 cases of Zika virus, of which 54 have been confirmed this week.

So far, five of the cases are pregnant women and five people are hospitalized. So far no deaths have been reported.

Rius noted that the Department of Health laboratories have received about 1,800 samples for evaluation.

"The number of samples that has come to our laboratory has increased because the community has become more aware of the disease and why we are reaching as many samples to our laboratories," Rius said at a news conference

The municipalities with the highest incidence are in the Eastern area of ​​the country.

On the other hand, they have already been carried out fumigations in 42 municipalities and tires have been collected 667.600.

They work against the clock to discover features Zika

In addition, it was announced that from March 1 they may file complaints on hatcheries on page 911 emergency system.

Published Friday February 26, 2016

http://www.telemundopr.com/noticias...-con-virus-del-Zika-en-la-isla-370261751.html
 
Zika is expected to infect 1 in 5 Puerto Ricans, raising threat to rest of U.S.

By Lena H. Sun February 29 at 11:29 AM
...
There are 117 confirmed cases of the virus in Puerto Rico, four times the number at the end of January. The island territory, which has a population of 3.5 million people, is ?by far the most affected area? in the United States, Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Friday. The number will almost certainly rise sharply in coming weeks, making it ever more likely that the virus will spread to the continental United States.

Dozens of flights move daily between San Juan and Orlando, Washington, New York and other major cities on the mainland. Cruise ships stop here as part of their Caribbean tours. College students will soon head here on spring break.
...
Experts say urgent action is needed before mosquitos reach their peak with the start of the rainy season in April. Experts from the CDC estimate that 70,000 people ? about 20 percent of the population ? could be infected across the island by the end of the year, based on previous outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, related viral diseases.
...
?I don?t think we?re going to be able to stop the Zika outbreak,? said Steve Waterman, chief of the CDC?s dengue branch, located on the city?s west side. ?There will be a substantial Zika outbreak that will peak in the summer and fall. It?s likely that thousands of pregnant women will be exposed and infected.?
...
Because of the suspected link between Zika and potentially devastating birth defects, authorities are focusing on protecting as many pregnant women as possible. That includes 4,000 expectant mothers living in parts of the island where mosquitoes are spreading the virus. That?s more than one-third of Puerto Rico ? primarily San Juan, the northeast and the southern coast.
...

Full text:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...288e30-db62-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2016Contact: HHS Press Office
202-690-6343
media@hhs.gov

HHS ships blood products to Puerto Rico in response to Zika outbreak

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced that it is arranging and funding shipments of blood products from the continental United States to Puerto Rico to ensure an adequate supply of safe blood for island residents as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico experiences active mosquito-borne Zika transmission. The first batch of blood products arrived in Puerto Rico on Saturday, March 5.

In the absence of special measures to screen for infection or reduce pathogens, the risk of Zika virus transmission through blood products is considered likely based on the most current scientific evidence of how Zika virus and similar viruses (flaviviruses) are spread, and what is currently being reported about transfusion-associated infection occurring outside of the United States. Blood products shipped to Puerto Rico will be collected from areas in the continental United States without active transmission of Zika virus so that blood products used in Puerto Rico can meet all of the same high safety standards as those used elsewhere in the United States.

The shipments are being provided to Puerto Rico through the American Red Cross, the Blood Centers of America, and America?s Blood Centers. Existing blood collection centers in Puerto Rico will then supply that imported blood to transfusion providers.

?Availability of safe blood products for the residents of Puerto Rico is a major priority for HHS,? said Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., HHS acting assistant secretary for health. ?We are arranging the importation of blood products from areas unaffected by local Zika transmission to ensure the safety of Puerto Rico?s blood supply.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that whole blood and blood components for transfusion be obtained from areas of the United States without active transmission of Zika virus until a blood donor screening test or pathogen reduction technology (where applicable) for Zika virus becomes available. Blood establishments may continue collecting and preparing platelets and plasma if an FDA-approved, pathogen-reduction device is used. Once a blood donor screening test becomes available and is implemented, blood establishments in Puerto Rico will be able to resume routine collection of blood and blood components.

Although an FDA-licensed blood donor screening test and pathogen reduction technology for whole blood and red blood cells are not currently available, facilitating the availability of such a test or technology is a top priority for HHS. A number of HHS components, including the FDA, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)/Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working actively with product manufacturers to develop blood donor screening tests and additional pathogen reduction technologies to help protect the nation?s supply of blood and blood components during this outbreak.

The Administration has submitted a $1.9 billion emergency funding request to Congress to respond to the Zika virus both domestically and internationally. Funding requested for ASPR/BARDA, FDA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will accelerate the development of blood donor screening tests, additional pathogen reduction technology, as well as other potential therapies.

###

http://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2016/...ducts-puerto-rico-response-zika-outbreak.html
 
Translation Google

Warns of massive infection of zika in Puerto Rico

USA will allocate 225 million to fight the virus on the island

Puerto Rico , Virus zika

Warns of massive infection of zika in Puerto Rico A chemist Chilean company Grupo Avance function as repellent aehypti Aedes mosquito, carrier of the virus PHOTO: EFE

BY:
EFE
MARCH 8, 2016
Saint John

Health authorities in the US warned today that in the coming months thousands of Puerto Rican pregnant women contract the virus Zika if appropriate on the island measures, where so far no confirmed 157 cases, of which 14 are women in gestation are not taken .

"In the coming months can be confirmed hundreds of thousands of cases of Zika and infected thousands of pregnant women," said the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tom Frieden, stressing that they will be allocated 225 million dollars to fight the spread of this virus on the island.

Frieden, who visits this week the Caribbean territory to strengthen collaboration with local authorities in the fight against zika, participated today in San Juan at a press conference in which he was accompanied by Secretary of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico , Ana R?us.

The official pointed out that there are displaced in San Juan 40 members of the CDC who work closely with the local government in the implementation of measures to curb the expansion of zika.

"The collaboration of citizenship is required," he reiterated again and again Frieden, after ensuring that as much effort to put the CDC, if Puerto Ricans do not take action, the incidence of cases can be very high the coming months.

Therefore, Frieden urged Puerto Ricans, and especially pregnant women, to take measures such as eliminating breeding sites, use repellents and use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted through infected males.

He noted that the incidence of zika is very different in Puerto Rico and the rest of the US, since in the continental area the percentage of households with central air conditioning is much higher than on the Caribbean island, contributing to avoid the presence of mosquitoes.

Furthermore, US They are installed in homes in the windows protection against insects and mosquitoes board, which does not happen in Puerto Rico .

Frieden said that in any case the Puerto Rican authorities carry out a proper job in the fight against the spread of zika, an issue addressed during the past two days in meetings with representative of the Executive of San Juan.

"We learn every day new on the zika things," said the official, noting that in the laboratories of the CDC is working overtime to determine marches which insecticides are most effective in combating the mosquito Aedes aegypti that transmits the virus, the same which spreads chikungunya and dengue.

Secretary of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico told Efe that shares Frieden's warning about the possibility that in the coming months thousands of pregnant women are infected.

"In any case if appropriate measures are taken can be minimized those numbers," noted R?us.

Rius said the local government also works for the mass application of insecticides effective because, as he acknowledged, mosquitoes have shown resistance to the use of permethrin, the most used so far on the island.

The Department of Health of Puerto Rico confirmed today that the first units of blood imported US were received, the first shipments until the appropriate mechanisms are developed to detect pathogens of Zika virus in blood units They are used in local hospitals.

The US company Walgreens has joined the effort to curb the spread of the virus in Puerto Rico through an awareness campaign for the public on preventive measures.

http://www.laraza.com/2016/03/08/alerta-sobre-contagio-masivo-de-zika-en-puerto-rico/
 
World | Wed Mar 9, 2016 12:37pm EST Related: U.S., HEALTH

U.S. CDC director calls Puerto Rico his No. 1 Zika priority

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO | BY JULIE STEENHUYSEN

In the fight against the Zika virus, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls Puerto Rico his top priority and is expressing worry about how to respond.
...
Frieden said he expects hundreds of thousands of people to be infected in Puerto Rico in the coming months, including thousands of pregnant women.

"We need to do everything possible to reduce the number," Frieden said.

Frieden expressed concern over the number of Puerto Rican women who do not want to get pregnant but are not using birth control.

"Clearly, if a woman doesn't want to become pregnant and it's consistent with her religion and beliefs to use contraceptives, she should be on contraception," he said.
...
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-frieden-idUSKCN0WB2AR
 
Translation Google

Cases continues to increase in PR zika

UPDATED: Today 13:31 h.POSTED: Today 13:20 h.

CYBERNEWS

Secretary of the Department of Health, Ana R?us Armendariz, on Friday, 64 new cases of the Zika virus confirmed for a total of 436 so far this year, 16 new cases of pregnant women for a total of 60 and two more cases Guillain Barr? for a total of five, all this, according to the latest arboviral report.

In order to support the prevention of contact of the Zika virus through sexual contact, Secretary of Health issued Administrative Order No. 350 requiring health plans to provide coverage of the most effective contraceptive methods such as intrauterine devices and inserting hormonal implants. "The purpose of this order is to expand access to more effective methods as we continue on alert Zika virus," said R?us Armendariz who in turn pointed out that efforts continue guidance to citizens. The collaboration between all agencies that make up the steering committee are vital because it allows every sector of our population nurtures the information available to educate and prevent infection with the virus Zika which is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito.

"The message remains the same. Prevention is key. Continue the use of repellent both outdoor activities as closed, make trips around your home and neighbors to eliminate potential breeding sites and wear appropriate clothing in light colors areas. We need to unite all government and community to fight together Zika, "emphasized the Minister of Health in a press release.

Moreover, the executive director of the 9-1-1 Emergency System Juan Morales Vargas, said that since the beginning of the emergence of Zika until now, has offered the 3-1-1 line (52) counseling services, (1,330) orientation of mosquito breeding sites, (1,674) referred to mosquito breeding and (82) by web. (39) Guidance on registration of pregnant women (42) registration of pregnant women and (8) web.

"The Governing Board Service Line 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 Government Services is committed to providing the public the resources needed to address this health emergency related to the Zika virus. We continue to offer orientation, registration pregnant women, report mosquito breeding sites through our 3-1-1 line and our website www.911puertorico.com < http://www.911puertorico.com , "said Juan Morales Vargas, 911 System CEO.

Operations director of the State Agency for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration, Oscar Sotomayor, informed that continues current work guidance to citizens about the situation of Zika on the island. "We are continuing the process of sealing respirators septic tanks in schools and public buildings to prevent the spread of the mosquito. We also hit 95 cemeteries located in towns where there have been cases of Zika and through effort with the Environmental Quality Board and the municipalities have collected 1,006,275 tires, "the official said.

"Although we have met the goal of the government component of impacting the 78 municipalities of the island either in cemeteries, in the collected gums and foci of propagation, we continue with civic education in the steps they can take to avoid mosquito breeding, "said Sotomayor.

For more information or access the weekly monitoring reports please visit the Department of Health: http://www.salud.gov.pr/.


http://www.metro.pr/noticias/continua-en-aumento-casos-de-zika-en-p-r/pGXpdh!tYEdoy1ONr2qE/
 
Diseases Weekly Report Arboviral (ArboV)
Department of Health of Puerto Rico

Week 18 (April 29 to May 5, 2016)


Cumulative ZIKV,
2015-2016
1,108 confirmed cases
139 pregnant women
98 (71%) Symptomatic
41 (29%) asymptomatic
27 (2%) Hospitalized
1 death

Zika Sequel
7 syndrome cases
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) ?
5 cases of Zika
2 cases of flavivirus
1 patient with defects
Birth / development

http://www.salud.gov.pr/Estadistica... Arbovirales/Reporte ArboV semana 18-2016.pdf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top