The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 8 more babies born in the United States with Zika-related birth defects, raising the total to 72. The number of pregnancy losses related to the virus remained at eight. So far 1,579 of 1,883 women who are part of the US Zika Pregnancy Registry have completed their pregnancies, with or without birth defects.
The study shows large releases are most effective in establishing and expanding mosquito populations.
The WHO says the cases in India likely reflect low-level transmission.
The World Health Organization's (WHO's) regional office for Africa released a new Ebola situation report today, noting fewer cases than previously reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Florida study suggests a 'perfect storm' of conditions made Miami a favorable setting for Zika and that mosquito control helped reduce disease levels.
Establishing an effective diagnostics protocol for Zika testing is of utmost importance, the GAO says.
Though deep cuts aren't likely to be enacted, health groups and experts aired strong concerns.
Chan said infectious disease challenges over the last decade led to better preparedness, but not nearly enough.
Also, researchers report a mutation in the Asian-lineage strain that made it more infectious to mosquitoes.
In the first-of-its-kind comprehensive review of a Zika outbreak in Asia, researchers from Singapore yesterday reported how easily the virus can be introduced and spread even when vector control programs are good, adding that response measures had a measurable impact on curbing the disease. Writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases yesterday, the team described an outbreak that began in August 2016.
