The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $400,000 to Alabama to establish, enhance, and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect microcephaly–a serious birth defect of the brain–and other adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection. The funding will also help Alabama ensure that affected infants and their families are referred to appropriate health and social services. Finally,…
Governor Bentley has taken a strong leadership role in preparedness and prevention measures against a possible future Zika virus outbreak. Though Alabama has been relatively unaffected by the virus, Governor Bentley is urging state agencies, health care professionals and citizens to exercise caution and to continue preparedness measures. On June 9, Governor Bentley participated in a teleconference call with Health…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Researchers will study some U.S. athletes for Zika during the summer Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil, to better understand how the virus infects. The National Institutes of Health announced the study Tuesday, amid concern among athletes over the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause severe birth defects. International health officials have said pregnant women should skip the games,…
Experts say fogger trucks that ply many neighborhoods with mosquito-killing pesticides in the evenings likely do little to control the possible carriers of the Zika virus. Derrick Mathias, an Auburn University assistant professor, says the trucks used in many towns and cities across Alabama do a good job killing species such as the southern house mosquito, which is active in…
A spokesman for the University of Alabama says a student has tested positive for the Zika virus. Spokesman Chris Bryant said in an email, “Federal privacy laws prevent us from commenting on the student’s condition; however, in the majority of Zika cases, individuals make a full recovery within a week.” Bryant wrote that the school was notified Friday about the…
The Alabama Department of Public Health reports the fourth and fifth travel-related cases of the Zika virus in Alabama residents. The positive specimens were from residents of Houston and Jefferson counties. In February and March, Zika cases were reported in residents of Morgan, Jefferson and Shelby counties. State Health Officer Dr. Tom Miller said, “We will implement enhanced surveillance with…
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are currently 544 cases of Zika in the continental United States. The growing threat has health experts in Alabama turning to an unconventional method to get the public aware, one that’s full of color. The Alabama Department of Public Health is distributing coloring books to educate children throughout the state about the…
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) voted yesterday in favor of legislation to provide funding for combatting the Zika virus. The House bill provides $622 million in new funding to address the Zika virus. The funding is offset by leftover money from the Ebola virus response and the transfer of funds from the Department of Health and Human Services Non-Reoccurring Expense Fund….
Alabama will never wipe out its mosquito population – which might literally bite for some. Alabama Department of Public Health officials believe they have a plan for residence to protect themselves from the Zika virus, which is becoming more prevalent in South and Central America along with some American territories including Puerto Rico. State officials are aggressively moving forward to…
A CDC related health group lists Montgomery as having a moderate risk this summer for the mosquito that carries the Zika virus. The city of Mobile is listed as having a high risk. The study was reported in the “Plos Currents: Outbreaks” journal. The study includes a map identifying cities at risk based on climate, poverty and closeness to the…
