Disease

Zika virus infection – Panama

On 2 December 2015, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) of Panama notified PAHO/WHO of the first 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease.

Zia Virus Causing Birth Defects

The devastating outbreak of a tropical disease known as the Zika virus has been plaguing regions of Latin America, leaving a trail of horrendous birth defects in its wake.

Zika, which was previously believed to be mild, now has the attention of the World Health Organization after rapidly spreading through Brazil and eight other surrounding countries. Microcephaly, an untreatable condition which inhibits the development of an unborn nfant’s brain and head, has been one of the major impacts to the infected.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some of the affected children will only experience mild disability, but most will be at high risk of developmental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome. The impacts on the children who experience microcephaly are similar in nature to the impacts a child might experience if the mother heavily used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.

In Brazil alone, over 1,200 babies that were born with microcephaly were linked to Zika. In Brazil’s worst hit state of Pernambuco, 646 instances of the defect were recorded, up from a mere 12 last year.

Dengue Fever in Hawaii - Update

Hawaii Department of Health officials say there are 136 confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawaii's Big Island. The people impacted Friday included 119 Hawaii Island residents and 17 visitors. It's the largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease since 2001.

In the 2001 outbreak, there were 122 confirmed dengue fever cases. The outbreak, which lasted for 10 months, began in a rural region of the island and then spread to areas with thick vegetation and heavy precipitation.