August 2, 2016 – Zika Update

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Anchor lead: More data is emerging on the impact of Zika, Elizabeth Tracey reports

The number of cases of Zika virus infection continue to climb worldwide, and additional aspects of infection are being identified.  Mike Klag, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, describes what’s known.

Klag: It’s not surprising that we continue to learn more about Zika as the epidemic unfolds. There are now more than 1300 cases in the US, almost all tied to travel.  It appears that there’s the first case in Florida of a domestic transmission, from a mosquito.  Second, a caregiver for an elderly man who had very high levels of Zika, got infected.  And then the third is it appears there’s the first case of female to male transmission.   :23

Klag says such observations are important to disseminate so prevention efforts can be expanded, but says the best hope remains a vaccine.

Klag: Of course it’s going to be important to develop a vaccine for Zika, that’s the way we will stop this infection.  There are a number of candidate vaccines.  The search for a vaccine is moving incredibly rapidly.  :11

At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.