Zika virus

[otolith]

Bit of the history of the origins of the rumour - surprised that even rags like the Wail and Mirror aren't treating it as the nonsense it is.


http://www.snopes.com/zika-virus-gmo-mosquitoes/

[Halb]

Jasandjules said:

The question is where did it come from?

Walmart?
http://yournewswire.com/zika-virus-can-be-purchase...

[Jasandjules]

Halb said:

Walmart?
http://yournewswire.com/zika-virus-can-be-purchase...

Yes I saw you could buy it. Just a tiny weenie bit worrying!

[Jasandjules]

Are you kidding me??

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccine...

Adverse events reported during post-approval use of Tripedia vaccine include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, SIDS,
anaphylactic reaction, cellulitis, autism, convulsion/grand mal convulsion, encephalopathy, hypotonia, neuropathy, somnolence
and apnea. Events were included in this list because of the seriousness or frequency of reporting

[otolith]

Don't forget;

a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
chills
fatigue (extreme tiredness)
sore throat
hoarse voice
cough
headache
difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
difficulty breathing
foul-smelling, bloodstained nasal discharge
swollen glands (nodes) in the neck
pale, blue skin
Blocking of the airway
Damage to the heart muscle (myocarditis)
Nerve damage (polyneuropathy)
Loss of the ability to move (paralysis)
Lung infection (respiratory failure or pneumonia)
Death

Stiffness of the neck, jaw, and other muscles, often accompanied by a grotesque, grinning expression
Uncontrollable spasms of the jaw, called lockjaw, and neck muscles
Painful, involuntary contraction of other muscles
Difficulty swallowing
a high temperature (fever)
sweating
high blood pressure (hypertension)
a rapid heartbeat
Broken bones. The severity of spasms may cause the spine and other bones to break.
Disability. Treatment for tetanus typically involves the use of powerful sedatives to control muscle spasms. Prolonged immobility due to the use of these drugs can lead to permanent disability. In infants, tetanus infections may cause lasting brain damage, ranging from minor mental deficits to cerebral palsy.
Death. Severe tetanus-induced (tetanic) muscle spasms can interfere with your breathing, causing periods in which you can't breathe at all. Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death. Lack of oxygen may also induce cardiac arrest and death. Pneumonia is another cause of death.

dry, irritating cough
runny or blocked nose
sneezing
watering eye
sore throat
slightly raised temperature
feeling generally unwell
intense bouts of coughing, which bring up thick phlegm
a "whoop" sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing (although this may not occur in infants and young children, see below)
vomiting after coughing, especially in infants and young children
tiredness and redness in the face from the effort of coughing
pneumonia, an infection that causes inflammation of the lungs
dehydration
temporary pauses in breathing as a result of severe difficulty with breathing
weight loss due to excessive vomiting
seizures (fits)
low blood pressure, requiring medication
kidney failure, requiring temporary dialysis
brain damage, if breathing difficulties prevent enough oxygen from getting to the brain
Death

[TheSnitch]

There is no doubt this increase in cases of microcephaly is associated with the Zika outbreak, but there is still some doubt over whether Zika is the causative agent. There remains the possibility that insecticides used to control the outbreak could be implicated.

I'm also wondering whether the efforts to prevent Dengue fever could have inadvertently allowed the Zika virus to spread, given that they both use the same mosquitoes as the vector. Nature is a bit like that; as soon as some organism creates a space, another one jumps in.

I think, however, given the increase in cases of Guillain-Barré, it will probably turn out to be the virus which is the problem, as that typically happens after a viral infection. It's certainly a huge worry with the Olympic Games this summer

[Smiler.]

TheSnitch said:

I think, however, given the increase in cases of Guillain-Barré, it will probably turn out to be the virus which is the problem, as that typically happens after a viral infection. It's certainly a huge worry with the Olympic Games this summer

Indeed. Early treatment to arrest the condition is vital & even then, it's likely significant damage will have already been done.

The treatment is very expensive & being a blood product needing vast amounts of the raw material, stocks may already be under strain.

I really hope that the outbreak is brought under control quickly.

[TheSnitch]

Smiler. said:

TheSnitch said:

I think, however, given the increase in cases of Guillain-Barré, it will probably turn out to be the virus which is the problem, as that typically happens after a viral infection. It's certainly a huge worry with the Olympic Games this summer

Indeed. Early treatment to arrest the condition is vital & even then, it's likely significant damage will have already been done.

The treatment is very expensive & being a blood product needing vast amounts of the raw material, stocks may already be under strain.

I really hope that the outbreak is brought under control quickly.

Yes, I think they use immunoglobulins, don't they? So that's a nightmare to scale up production. I wonder if they will consider giving antivirals to try to prevent infection or minimise the duration of symptoms?

[Smiler.]

TheSnitch said:

Smiler. said:

TheSnitch said:

I think, however, given the increase in cases of Guillain-Barré, it will probably turn out to be the virus which is the problem, as that typically happens after a viral infection. It's certainly a huge worry with the Olympic Games this summer

Indeed. Early treatment to arrest the condition is vital & even then, it's likely significant damage will have already been done.

The treatment is very expensive & being a blood product needing vast amounts of the raw material, stocks may already be under strain.

I really hope that the outbreak is brought under control quickly.

Yes, I think they use immunoglobulins, don't they? So that's a nightmare to scale up production. I wonder if they will consider giving antivirals to try to prevent infection or minimise the duration of symptoms?

They do & that's exactly my thought.

GBS is weird because as you pointed out, it's triggered by (an often mild) viral infection & causality is not obvious.

[hornetrider]

"Call off the Olympics"

Zika crisis: Rio Olympics 'should be moved or postponed'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-3640...

There is no way this will be allowed to happen, there is too much money at stake. What's the betting that the IOC roll out some experts to rubbish this opinion.

[Oceanic]

hornetrider said:

"Call off the Olympics"

Zika crisis: Rio Olympics 'should be moved or postponed'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-3640...

There is no way this will be allowed to happen, there is too much money at stake. What's the betting that the IOC roll out some experts to rubbish this opinion.

Well we know sporting bodies are highly dodgy so yes they will dispute it, even the risk of one deformed child is too much given the overwhelming concern about this virus!