Zika- this year's SARS or actual danger?

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** August 05, 2016, 08:08:56 PM

The media has cried wolf too many times for me to really pay attention to them, but considering the government is gassing half of Miami right now I have to wonder if it is real this time.

I know we have a few doctors here.... what is the real scoop and not the CNN mania about Zika?

Def

Fortytwo · **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2016, 09:07:12 PM

Over the top government reactions seems to be just in line with how things work these days. I wouldn't really take that as proof of whether it's actually dangerous or not (300+ cases of narcolepsy in Sweden (~10 million) following the very thorough vaccinations against the swine flu).

That said I know very little about Zika but mosquito transfer might make it harder to eradicate than say Ebola that relied on human -human spread (once western world countries started sending trained staff and quarantine gear it was quickly pushed back). You can't really kill all mosquitos.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2016, 11:53:50 PM

I actually just asked my father this question the other day (hes a practicing physician at a major hospital where we live). I'll do my best to paraphrase what he thought.

Basically, the entire Zika thing is fairly overblown. It is only really a threat to pregnant woman and fetuses, and the number of cases is astonishingly low in the US. But even abroad, Zika is not nearly as scary as many of the other diseases that have plagued South America for years, like dengue, ebola or malaria. Yes it is an issue that needs to be addressed, but in the US specifically, and in other countries in general, it is not the disaster the media has portrayed it as.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2016, 11:51:08 PM

Thanks for the answers- the next question is, is Zika curable or something that lasts a specific amount of time? I know the birth defects are permanent, but what about if a woman was bitten by an infected mosquito now, would she ever be able to have children without risk, or is this something that rides with her forever?

As someone who gets bit by every mosquito for miles. inquiring minds want to know...

Def

Fortytwo · **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2016, 12:08:48 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on August 06, 2016, 11:51:08 PM

Thanks for the answers- the next question is, is Zika curable or something that lasts a specific amount of time? I know the birth defects are permanent, but what about if a woman was bitten by an infected mosquito now, would she ever be able to have children without risk, or is this something that rides with her forever?

As someone who gets bit by every mosquito for miles. inquiring minds want to know...

Def

With the talk of some athletes avoiding the Olympics in Rio or freezing sperm/eggs I presumed it was permanent, not sure though

sLaughterMed · **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2016, 05:46:02 AM

I think the potential for birth defects only last as long as you have the virus. Why they are freezing sperm is a mystery, as Zika dosent affect it at all (although some speculate it could be transmitted through intercourse, but I dont think theres any data to back that claim up)

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2016, 07:03:01 AM

Are you asking whether a threat of biological warfare is a concern, especially if it could affect the next generation of the human population in certain regions? You don't hear about Zika in Iran. Though with most infected biological organisms they have a tend to mutate and spread - sometimes biting the hands that infected them.

Why do you think the CDC is on top of it before it gets a foothold? Already reading reports that it's here in the US, and the CDC is even buying sperm samples from recently infected men. The CDC was initially formed when Malaria was invading the US. As for the Zika Virus, you can go to the CDC's website and find out publicly released data. Don't think you'll find out any official dirt due to the harsh penalties involved in breaching confidentiality.