Posted: 2/4/2016
First confirmed cases reported in Dallas County
In recent weeks officials with Parkland have designated a multidisciplinary team of healthcare experts to determine the process for diagnosing patients with symptoms suggestive of Zika virus disease, as well as identifying and monitoring pregnant women who may have been exposed to the Zika virus. Zika virus is an emerging pathogen similar to dengue and chikungunya that is spread primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, although one of the two cases reported in Dallas was associated with sexual transmission.
The Parkland team, comprised of specialists in infectious diseases, infection prevention, pathology, obstetrics, pediatrics, nursing, patient safety and risk, among others, are drawing on their collective experience and expertise to develop these protocols. The team is working closely with Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Pregnant women receiving care at Parkland will be asked if they have a history of travel outside of the United States. The multidisciplinary team is developing a screening plan for pregnant patients with a history of travel to areas affected by Zika. In addition, pregnant women will be asked if they have had sexual contact with someone with recent history of travel to Zika-affected areas. In pregnant women with history of exposure to the virus, the concern is related to reports of association with birth defects such as microcephaly. These reports of association are yet to be confirmed in scientific studies.
“There is no concern for Zika virus in individuals who have not traveled to, or in those who have not had sexual contact with an individual who has traveled to a Zika virus affected country,” said Pranavi Sreeramoju, MD, Parkland’s Chief of Infection Prevention and Associate Professor in Medicine–Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “Countries with active transmission of Zika virus include South American countries such as Brazil and El Salvador, and the Caribbean islands.”
The complete list of countries is available at www.cdc.gov.
On Feb. 1, the World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency of international concern. On Feb. 2, Dallas County Health and Human Services confirmed two cases of the Zika virus in Dallas. One of the patients was infected with the virus after having sexual contact with an ill individual who returned from a country where Zika virus is present.
“About one in five people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., show symptoms). The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache,” Dr. Sreeramoju said. “The incubation period – the time from exposure to symptoms – for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week.”
The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and deaths are rare.
Additional information is available at www.cdc.gov.