51 Pregnant Women in NYC Have Zika
From DNAinfo by Carolina Pichardo:
The number of New Yorkers with the Zika virus has increased to 505 — 51 of them pregnant women — as city officials are urging New Yorkers, particularly pregnant women and their partners, to refrain from traveling to Zika-ridden countries for the next year.
The travel warning comes as the New York Blood Center (NYBC), a nonprofit community blood center, announced it will now screen its blood supply for the Zika virus following new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines released Friday.
The FDA recommended that all blood collected in selected states — including New York, California, New Mexico and Texas, among other states — start being tested for Zika.
The increased security measures are designed to protect babies and pregnant women, who are at most risk of health issues from the disease, according to Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett and State Sen. Adriano Espaillat who continued to get the word out in Upper Manhattan on Tuesday.
“We’re doing this out of the concern for [pregnant women’s] health, but most important, for the health of their unborn child. It’s critical that they take that responsibility,” Espaillat said, urging pregnant women, and those planning to have children to avoid traveling to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and other Zika-affected areas.
Where do you run to?
RIght now, just avoid places like S. America, Miami, Singapore, etc. However – pardon me for gloom and doom -, this thing seems to be going worldwide. Then what? Escape to the moon?!
Bug repellent (like DEET) may be the way to go. Generally non-toxic (especially compared to Zika!), but long-term use – who knows? Anyway see this report on the use of DEET:
http://www.popsci.com/article/science/deet-safe-use
Zika
Who’s to say it’s really mosquitoes.