cause a serious birth defect called
microcephaly in babies born to infected
mothers. Zika virus also has now been
associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Now, Zika has our attention.
Many people are now hearing
or reading that Zika is in their state.
By the end of April, the CDC had
identified Zika cases in 43 states. Some
people are starting to ask whether they
should travel to certain states that have
reported cases of Zika. In that regard,
it is important to note that none of these
infections was acquired locally through
infected mosquitoes. So far, all of these
cases have been acquired through travel
(or sexual contact with someone who has
traveled) to countries or territories where
Zika is circulating locally.
While we have not yet seen locally
acquired cases of Zika in the continental
United States, this almost certainly
will occur. It is unlikely that these locally
acquired cases will become sustained
and widespread. However, we must be
prepared to deal with them. Certainly,
there is no reason to panic. We are going
to have to do a lot to educate the public
about what the risk is and what the risk
is not, and to help people keep the risk
in perspective. We should all recall what
happened in the United States not so
long ago, when an individual came from
Liberia and was hospitalized with Ebola
in Texas, and then two nurses became
infected when caring for him. This sad
situation sparked a panic that there was
going to be a major outbreak of Ebola
in the United States. In reality, there was
virtually no chance that would happen.
As concerning as the Zika virus is, we
must remember and remind people that
it is just the latest disease in a perpetual
series of emerging and reemerging
infectious disease threats. The timeless
threat of new diseases - or old diseases
that start to appear in new places or new
ways - is now amplified by factors such
as urban crowding, international travel,
and other human behaviors.
An evolving situation such as the
current Zika outbreak will create a lot
of concern and even panic on the part
of some people. We in the public health
sector must be crystal clear in articulating
exactly what we know and what we still
need to know about the threat, and in
helping people understand how this
new risk compares to risks they willingly
assume every day. With that perspective,
people will be better able to understand
what rational steps they can take to
protect themselves. ■
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