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Zika and West Nile Virus Summary Update - Pfister
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Mosquito-borne diseases are those that are transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. These diseases include: Zika Virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, Yellow Fever, and some forms of encephalitis. Currently, Zika and WNV receive most of the public and media attention in our country.
Zika virus is similar to Dengue, Yellow Fever, and West Nile and is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes and sex. As of September 7, 2016, there have been 2,964 cases of Zika reported in the United States and D.C., of which 671 of the cases were pregnant. There have also been 15,869 cases of Zika reported in U.S. Territories, of which 1,080 of the cases were pregnant. In the U.S. there have been 43 locally acquired mosquito-borne Zika cases reported, 2920 travel-associated Zika cases (24 were sexually transmitted) and 1 laboratory acquired Zika case. In the U.S., 7 people had Guillain-Barr? syndrome and in U.S. Territories, 31 people had it. Sexually transmitted cases are not reported for U.S. Territories because with local transmission of Zika virus it is not possible to determine whether infection was a result of mosquitoes or sexual contact.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is currently reporting 60 confirmed cases of Zika virus disease statewide, compared to 17 in May. In Lake County, 138 suspect Zika cases have been investigated so far (15 of them are males), and almost all of them have been tested serologically. Seventy pregnant women had an ultrasound test and only one of those tests showed slight enlargement of the head, however, that case was ruled out as Zika. Of all serologically tested cases, five were confirmed with Zika (none pregnant), and four individuals were counted as Arbovirus Unspecified cases, due to increased Dengue titers.
In regard to WNV, the state of Illinois currently reports 15 human cases (compared to 77 total last ye...
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