Saturday, August 20, 2016

Zika is Deadly to Adults. By Geniusofddespair

Mayor Phillip Levine doesn't like controversy in Miami Beach. He didn't like it when scientists reported that the rising waters on land in Miami Beach, that is being pumped into the Bay, was deemed polluted. He trashed the Scientists. Now he is refusing to accept that Zika has been found in his city. Wait, I think his denial has switched to "stuck with it" now that 5 cases have been found. Actually, I don't blame him, Zika has everyone pretty scared.

Zika doesn't just cause microcephaly in babies it is also linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. It also can be deadly: A Utah man died from Zika at the end of June. Yesterday a man under 50 years old in Puerto Rico died from paralysis that developed from a Zika infection.

According to a report from the World Health Organization released in February on Guillan-Barre Syndrome (rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves):

In July 2015, Brazil reported the detection of patients with neurological syndromes who had recent history of Zika virus infection in the state of Bahia. There were 76 patients with neurological syndromes identified, of which 42 (55%) were confirmed as GBS. Among the confirmed GBS, 26 (62%) had a history of symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection. In addition, 7 patients presenting with neurologic syndromes were confirmed to be positive for Zika virus infection in November 2015. In 2015, a total of 1 708 cases of GBS were registered nationwide, representing a 19% average increase from the previous year (1 439 cases of GBS), though not all states reported an increase in incidence.

In February 2016, the Colombia International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) reported an increase in cases of GBS. Colombia reports an average of 242 cases of GBS per year. However, in the five weeks to 30 January 2016, there were 86 cases of GBS already reported. Of the total cases registered, 49 (57%) were male and 37 (43%) were female. Mean age of the 58 cases for which age data were available was 43 years.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why do cities and people run their sprinklers in the summer? Nothing like refilling mosquito breeding locations for no reason. We should have a county wide ban on running sprinklers.

Geniusofdespair said...

We have to revive the Miami settlers answer to mosquitos: keep a smudge pot in your home!

Anonymous said...

What is a "smudge pot".

Geniusofdespair said...

Smudge pot for mosquitos is .. A pot of tar and oil burned to produce thick noxious smoke to discourage pests. The people kept them in their houses.. Smudge pots today are used to warm crops during a frost.