Zika Virus

[ellenrr]

This is not the first plague to result from climate change but it will be remembered as a turning point.
1 1/2 million people infected.
20 countries affected. so far.
4000 babies in Brazil born with microencephaly.

Those the ones we know about.
Imagine a health delivery system already on the edge, now add 4000 babies/children/adults requiring special care for their entire lives...

Meanwhile ... the band plays on... "presidential" candidates and talking-heads argue about who is afraid of Megan Kelley.
I guess we DO get the candidates we deserve.
sad...

Two articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/health/zika-virus-spreading-explosively-in-americas-who-says.html?action=click&contentCollection=Music&module=MostPopularFB&version=Full®ion=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article
~~~
http://theantimedia.org/zika-outbreak-epicenter-in-same-area-where-gm-mosquitoes-were-released-in-2015/

[Travis_0004]

1. The virus has been around since 1947

And mosquitoes have been around much longer.

Im not sure what this has to dl with global warming.

Its likely a result of increased global travel, I dont think we can blame this on global warming.

[Hortensis]

2. Too soon to quantify factors, perhaps, but MANY disease

distributions are spreading and disease epidemics occurring more frequently and virulently because of global warming. So much so, in fact, that we should not assume climate change is not playing a significant role in Zika's spread also.

Affluent Romans used to move to the hills to avoid malaria, but these days heat and mosquitoes are heading for the hills too. And Zika and its mosquito are moving north from the tropics.

For the first time I'm glad, instead of sad, that we aren't expecting any new babies in our family for the foreseeable future.

[ellenrr]

4. women in El Salvador have been advised not to get pregnant til 2018

not sure what is magical about that year.
Hard "not to get pregnant" in a country with a majority Catholic population, and a not particularly well-educated populace.

[Hortensis]

7. Hmmm, Zika as a MAJOR social change vector too?

Seems very likely to me. The WHO says this "explosive" spread is only the beginning.

[winter is coming]

13. Maybe they think nearly all women of childbearing age will have had Zika by then.

I gather the disease in itself is relatively mild for adults.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. It is pretty self limiting

like a bad cold with exczema

[ellenrr]

3. Climate change -- not "global warming" leads to wetter and hotter climates

ergo - more mosquitoes.

[clarice]

25. Hi Ellenrr...can you please describe the difference for me? nt

[ellenrr]

28. difference between what?

between the terms?
"Climate chaos" is one term which describes what is happening, and which will continue to become more extreme.
or "extreme weather conditions"

not 'global warming' or 'climate warming'
bec. there are other extreme weather events,
such as the historic snow storm 2 weeks ago in the northeast may be related to El Nino and climate change.

during the ensuing years some place will become hotter and drier, some will become colder, so global warming does not suffice.

[clarice]

29. Yes....thank you ..nt

[clarice]

26. Ellen? nt

[ellenrr]

5. True, why should we believe scientists when we could have your opinion...

based on... your opinion.

Scientists and people like Bill McKibben-- well, what does he know?

"The Zika virus foreshadows our dystopian climate future"
Bill McKibben

"I’ve spent much of my life chronicling the ongoing tragedies stemming from global warming: the floods and droughts and storms, the failed harvests and forced migrations. But no single item on the list seems any more horrible than the emerging news from South America about the newly prominent Zika disease.

Spread by mosquitoes whose range inexorably expands as the climate warms, Zika causes mild flu-like symptoms. But pregnant women bitten by the wrong mosquito are liable to give birth to babies with shrunken heads. Brazil last year recorded 4,000 cases of this “microcephaly”. As of today, authorities in Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, El Salvador and Venezuela were urging women to avoid getting pregnant."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/25/zika-virus-brazil-dystopian-climate-future

[Katashi_itto]

6. Glad we have you to tell us how things really work.

Science...meh...We have Travis.

[lapislzi]

8. Antimedia is not a reliable source

It's a repository for creative speculation.

NYT calls for caution and proactive control measures.

It remains to be seen how directives for women to avoid becoming pregnant (of course it's always on the women... ) will be effective in heavily Catholic countries with limited access to family planning. Good luck with that, Brazil.

[ellenrr]

10. oh, that's right- the New York times is a reliable source...

If you are disputing the facts in the article - pls be specific.

[lapislzi]

12. NYT is more reliable than an anti-vax conspiracy theory website

That's all I'm saying.

I'm choosy about where I get my news. Anything that endorses anti-vax woo is unreliable, in my book. YMMV.

Article "suggests" a link between GM mosquitoes and zika virus. Correlation is no indicator of causation. When there's some hard evidence to support this claim, I'll take the claim more seriously. To put it more plainly, the article is speculative bullshit.

And what, exactly, is so hilarious about the NYT being a reliable news source?

[ellenrr]

20. Have you not heard of Judith Miller? maybe you should educate yourself Just a little

before running off at the mouth.
Judith Miller the NEW YORK TIMES reporter who helped hawk us into the Iraq war--

ring any bells???




http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/9226/

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/30/jon_stewart_smacks_down_judith_miller_you_drove_us_into_the_devastating_iraq_war/

[lapislzi]

22. Please don't talk down to me.

I am as informed as you are. Probably more so. Well aware of Judith Miller and her antics THIRTEEN YEARS AGO. So that trashes the credibility of the entire paper, forever? Please. Do throw out the baby with the bath water; heaven knows they've done absolutely no good reporting before or since; is that what you're suggesting?

As I said upthread, any site peddling anti-vax or other woo is at the very least, suspect.

Obviously you and I adhere to different standards. Such is life.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Antimedia is wrong on this one

the outbreak in brazil came from mosquitoes from Africa... who were infected. QUICK, when was ZIKA first Identified? 1945

Where? Outside the Zika Forest in Uganda.

I am sure you will call shit on the World Health Organization as well.

We linked to t heir information YESTERDAY

http://reportingsandiego.com/2016/01/28/who-calls-for-an-emergency-committee-on-zika/

[amborin]

9. hoping this won't lead to another "Silent Spring"

heard some "expert" calling for emptying all bird bath water; total over-reaction; responsible people refresh that water
daily; even more worrisome: mass spraying with insecticides; outside the US, banned insecticides are routinely used

[ellenrr]

11. yes - more spraying us with poisons--

or develop a mythical vaccine at some future date.

let's get real--
the battle is over.
as a bumper sticker reads:
"At least the war on the environment is going well."

[Flaxbee]

15. I know - this greatly concerns me as well

Mass hysteria = greater environmental apocalypse.

[Duppers]

17. Why are people ignoring CLIMATE CHANGE?

More disease and death to come.

[clarice]

27. Duppers...when did Global warming get changed to Climate change?........

Did I miss something?

[kiva]

18. Origin of Zika Virus Outbreak in Brazil May Be Linked to Major Sporting Events

It’s not just humans who can travel rapidly across the world. Viruses and disease-spreading insects and animals can hitch a ride on various modes of travel and the ongoing Zika virus outbreak has spotlighted how viruses can span the globe, putting at risk people who had formerly been protected by geography.
--snip--
Prior to 2015, transmissions of the virus had not been found in people in South America and instead appeared mainly in Africa, Asia and Polynesia.

While it’s not entirely clear when the viral outbreak started or if there was “patient zero” who spread the virus, researchers who published the June 2015 study speculated that the virus may have come to Brazil during major sporting events that brought together tens to hundreds of thousands of international travelers in close proximity.

“One plausible hypothesis is the arrival of the new emergent virus during the soccer World Cup in 2014,” said the authors of the June 2015 study that studied the genetic sequence of the Zika virus in the Brazilian outbreak.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-virus-outbreak-brazil-linked-major-sporting-events/story?id=36575321

[Marrah_G]

19. Here is a link to the WHO fact sheet

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/

[ZombieHorde]

21. Thank you for posting this link. nt

[flamingdem]

23. Zika is a potential risk for all - spike in Guillain Barre paralysis is occuring

Zika virus: Colombia warns of spike in patients with related paralysis disorder

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/28/zika-virus-colombia-paralysis-disorder-guillain-barre

[smirkymonkey]

24. What kind of lives can babies born with this be expected to have?

Will they have any quality of life at all?