Zika Virus Confirmed in Houston

[still_one]

Source: Time

"The mosquito-borne virus is linked to birth defects








The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a case of the Zika virus in Houston, but luckily for Texans, it was acquired while the patient was traveling outside the country.

The mosquito-borne virus produces symptoms like headaches, fever and rashes in adults, but is not thought to be fatal, the Houston Chronicle reports. However, its prevalence in Brazil is thought to have led to a spike in the birth defect microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with very small heads. It has also been linked with Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the body’s immune system attacks its nerves, although the connection to both diseases is still being explored. Health officials hope to develop a vaccine for the virus.

While officials in Texas did not reveal where the patient had been traveling, they did say the disease was picked up over the holidays. There is not currently any threat of the disease in the continental U.S., but travelers to Latin America and the Caribbean—particularly pregnant women—have been urged to use mosquito repellant and exercise caution. The CDC confirmed a case in Puerto Rico in December. The patient there had no travel history, meaning mosquitos carried the virus locally."



Read more: http://time.com/4176070/zika-virus-u-s-houston-texas/

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Hillary caused it.

I seen it.

[dembotoz]

2. small heads would explain the tea party

[Mojorabbit]

3. I was just speaking with a friend about this

And we were sure this would happen. It is spreading fast in South America.

[still_one]

4. a possible complication is Guillain-Barre Syndrome which can be very serious

[eggplant]

5. Thanks, Obama. n/t

[callous taoboy]

6. My brother caught chikungunya while in the tropics:

He was bit by some mosquitos, and a few weeks later was in bad, bad shape, thought he was going to die. Chikungunya is a nasty one, and it is making it's way north.

[still_one]

7. some scary stuff out there

[Gothmog]

8. This is scary