Posted on 07/04/2007 10:00:12 PM PDT by neverdem
A little-known virus is causing a big fuss in Micronesia, the Pacific island nation partly managed by the United States.
The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, produces an itchy rash, pinkeye, joint pain and fever. Since its discovery 60 years ago in an ill monkey in the Zika forest in Uganda, it has caused rare cases and outbreaks in Africa and Southeast Asia. There is no specific treatment or vaccine.
Now Zika has made its first appearance in Micronesia, on the island of Yap, where health officials say there have been at least 42 confirmed cases and 65 probable ones. Additional cases may be occurring on other islands.
While Zika does not seem to be fatal, it is posing unusual challenges to the public health system, not just in this remote chain of islands, about 600 miles east of the Philippines, but also in the United States.
The virus can be misleading, giving false positive results on screening tests; also, studies are needed to gain insights into how infectious agents move unexpectedly in new areas and to be sure that Zika does not lead to long-term complications.
Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the Pasteur Institute and the World Health Organization have joined Yap doctors in investigating the outbreak and trying to prevent further spread.
A physician on Yap alerted the C.D.C. in late May because he and his colleagues were puzzled by the pattern of symptoms their patients were experiencing, said Dr. Edward B. Hayes, an expert in mosquito-borne viral infections at the centers’ field station in Fort Collins, Colo.
The illness in Yap resembled another mosquito-borne infection, dengue fever, which has occurred in Micronesia and can cause severe bone pain. But the Yap illness seemed to differ from typical dengue, producing more joint...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Zika ping
Viruses! Curse them all!
Why do we still have mosquitoes? I remember back in the 90s reading schemes for ridding the earth of these pests. What happened? Did we give up? Did the leftists stop such efforts? I hear no more talk about making the world mosquito-free.
Since mosquitoes are the primary food source for thousands of other birds, bats, fish and just about everything else, ELIMINATING them would not be a real good idea.
I have no problem with using DDT - it is needed in some areas. But, killing ALL of the mosquitoes would be not only impossible, but extremely stupid.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.