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| Change in Zika counting method triples tally of US cases in pregnant women Change in Zika counting method triples tally of US cases in pregnant women | |
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| More than 270 women are being monitored for Zika in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday. | More than 270 women are being monitored for Zika in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday. |
| The CDC announced that 157 women in the 50 US states and Washington DC had tested positive for the virus, but the new number also includes the 122 people who tested positive for the virus in Puerto Rico and other US territories. | The CDC announced that 157 women in the 50 US states and Washington DC had tested positive for the virus, but the new number also includes the 122 people who tested positive for the virus in Puerto Rico and other US territories. |
| “These new numbers reflect a broader group of pregnant women – pregnant women who have any laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection, and whether or not they recalled symptoms – compared with numbers previously reported,” the CDC said in a statement. | “These new numbers reflect a broader group of pregnant women – pregnant women who have any laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection, and whether or not they recalled symptoms – compared with numbers previously reported,” the CDC said in a statement. |
| The CDC changed how it counts Zika infections this week to include all women who have tested positive for Zika. Previously, only women who tested positive for the virus and had Zika symptoms were included in the count. It is estimated that only one in five people with Zika develop symptoms, which typically last less than a week. | The CDC changed how it counts Zika infections this week to include all women who have tested positive for Zika. Previously, only women who tested positive for the virus and had Zika symptoms were included in the count. It is estimated that only one in five people with Zika develop symptoms, which typically last less than a week. |
| Though the virus usually only causes a brief and mild illness, studies have linked the virus to microcephaly, a rare condition which cause babies to have unusually small heads and brains. | Though the virus usually only causes a brief and mild illness, studies have linked the virus to microcephaly, a rare condition which cause babies to have unusually small heads and brains. |
| Barack Obama emphasized on Friday that scientists do not yet know all of the potential health effects of Zika, after he was briefed by top US health officials on the virus. | Barack Obama emphasized on Friday that scientists do not yet know all of the potential health effects of Zika, after he was briefed by top US health officials on the virus. |
| The briefing was handed down by Sylvia Burwell, secretary of Health and Human Services; Tom Frieden, director of the CDC; and Tony Fauci, director of the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. | The briefing was handed down by Sylvia Burwell, secretary of Health and Human Services; Tom Frieden, director of the CDC; and Tony Fauci, director of the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. |
| In remarks at the White House, Obama said US health agencies are working on a plan that includes developing a vaccine and improving diagnostic tests. “We’re also working with all the states so that they’re properly prepared if we start seeing an outbreak here in the primary United States during the summer when obviously mosquitoes are more active,” he said. | In remarks at the White House, Obama said US health agencies are working on a plan that includes developing a vaccine and improving diagnostic tests. “We’re also working with all the states so that they’re properly prepared if we start seeing an outbreak here in the primary United States during the summer when obviously mosquitoes are more active,” he said. |
| The virus is expected to spread in the hot summer months when the mosquito population grows. | The virus is expected to spread in the hot summer months when the mosquito population grows. |
| So far, there is no evidence to show that the virus has spread in the US. The 544 known cases in the US were in people who had traveled to areas where there has been a Zika outbreak, or had sex with someone who traveled to an outbreak region. | So far, there is no evidence to show that the virus has spread in the US. The 544 known cases in the US were in people who had traveled to areas where there has been a Zika outbreak, or had sex with someone who traveled to an outbreak region. |
| Obama’s administration put forward a $1.9bn proposal for funding to combat Zika but the Senate has approved only more than half the funds, while the House has just approved a third. | Obama’s administration put forward a $1.9bn proposal for funding to combat Zika but the Senate has approved only more than half the funds, while the House has just approved a third. |
| “It is not something that we have to panic about, but it is something we have to take seriously,” Obama said. “And if we make a modest investment on the front end, then this is going to be a problem that we don’t have to deal with on the back end.” | “It is not something that we have to panic about, but it is something we have to take seriously,” Obama said. “And if we make a modest investment on the front end, then this is going to be a problem that we don’t have to deal with on the back end.” |
| Experts emphasized that there does not appear to be any dramatic actual increase of pregnant women with the disease in recent months. There was a spike in diagnoses in February and March, but relatively few new cases since then, according to CDC data that includes women who experienced symptoms and those who did not. | Experts emphasized that there does not appear to be any dramatic actual increase of pregnant women with the disease in recent months. There was a spike in diagnoses in February and March, but relatively few new cases since then, according to CDC data that includes women who experienced symptoms and those who did not. |
| The virus is spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito called Aedes aegypti. It can be found in the southern United States, but there is no evidence that they have been spreading the virus in the US yet. | The virus is spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito called Aedes aegypti. It can be found in the southern United States, but there is no evidence that they have been spreading the virus in the US yet. |
| Experts think mosquitoes on the US mainland will probably start spreading the virus in the months ahead, when hot weather hits and mosquito populations boom. | Experts think mosquitoes on the US mainland will probably start spreading the virus in the months ahead, when hot weather hits and mosquito populations boom. |
| The sudden rise in the count of pregnant women with the disease in the US may seem jarring. But Dr Neil Silverman, a UCLA professor of obstetrics who has been advising the California department of public health on Zika issues, explained the change in method does not indicate a greater risk of infection. | The sudden rise in the count of pregnant women with the disease in the US may seem jarring. But Dr Neil Silverman, a UCLA professor of obstetrics who has been advising the California department of public health on Zika issues, explained the change in method does not indicate a greater risk of infection. |
| When he gets calls from patients, he said, “about 90% of what we’re doing is reassuring and calming people.” | When he gets calls from patients, he said, “about 90% of what we’re doing is reassuring and calming people.” |
| Only an estimated one in five people infected with Zika develop symptoms – fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes – which usually last no more than a week. | Only an estimated one in five people infected with Zika develop symptoms – fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes – which usually last no more than a week. |
| Initially, doctors recognized the connection between the virus and birth defects only in women who had suffered symptoms during pregnancy. But reports published this year indicate some pregnant women with laboratory evidence of a recent Zika infection – but who never had symptoms – have delivered infants with these defects. | Initially, doctors recognized the connection between the virus and birth defects only in women who had suffered symptoms during pregnancy. But reports published this year indicate some pregnant women with laboratory evidence of a recent Zika infection – but who never had symptoms – have delivered infants with these defects. |
| International health agencies have already been reporting Zika infections in women based solely on lab tests. Some experts have found it surprising that the CDC has been basing its official number on a more conservative case definition. | International health agencies have already been reporting Zika infections in women based solely on lab tests. Some experts have found it surprising that the CDC has been basing its official number on a more conservative case definition. |
| However, CDC officials had voiced concerns that one kind of blood test is too prone to giving a false positive test result if a woman was infected with a different but similar tropical virus. | However, CDC officials had voiced concerns that one kind of blood test is too prone to giving a false positive test result if a woman was infected with a different but similar tropical virus. |
| CDC officials on Friday said it is possible the new count may include a few false positives, but they say the new count will offer a more complete picture of the effects of Zika in the US states and territories. | CDC officials on Friday said it is possible the new count may include a few false positives, but they say the new count will offer a more complete picture of the effects of Zika in the US states and territories. |
| The CDC says doctors should consider testing pregnant women who have been to an area where Zika is spreading, whether or not they have symptoms. Doctors are also encouraged to ask pregnant women if their sex partner has been infected or traveled to an outbreak area. | The CDC says doctors should consider testing pregnant women who have been to an area where Zika is spreading, whether or not they have symptoms. Doctors are also encouraged to ask pregnant women if their sex partner has been infected or traveled to an outbreak area. |
| The new counting “will give us a better idea of the correlation between a mom’s symptoms and the effects on the baby,” said Dr Richard Beigi, an obstetrics expert at the University of Pittsburgh. | The new counting “will give us a better idea of the correlation between a mom’s symptoms and the effects on the baby,” said Dr Richard Beigi, an obstetrics expert at the University of Pittsburgh. |
| The CDC did not say how many Zika-infected pregnant women were believed to have been infected during travel and how many got it through sex. Officials said the count has includes diagnoses made over several months, and while many of the women in the count still are pregnant, some of the pregnancies have ended since the women were first diagnosed. The agency did not detail the outcomes of the pregnancies. | The CDC did not say how many Zika-infected pregnant women were believed to have been infected during travel and how many got it through sex. Officials said the count has includes diagnoses made over several months, and while many of the women in the count still are pregnant, some of the pregnancies have ended since the women were first diagnosed. The agency did not detail the outcomes of the pregnancies. |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | The Associated Press contributed to this report |