Month: March 2016

Zika Eradication

A major component of Zika eradication is to produce gamma-irradiated sterile mosquitoes. Within the next fews months IAEA will send a gamma cell irradiator to Brazil’s Moscamed research center in Juazeiro. The irradiator will allow the research center to produce up to 12 million sterilized male mosquitoes per week. The mosquitos will be released in 15 areas that have been hit hard by Zika and will reach up to 750,000 people.

The process begins with using gamma rays to sterilize male mosquito pupae. The mosquitos are then raised in huge numbers and released into the wild where they compete with wild male mosquitos. If enough sterile males mate with females, the chance of producing offspring is significantly lowered, causing a crash in the mosquito population that is spreading the Zika virus.

Throughout the years, this same technique has been used in reducing other problem insects. When populations of moths and fruit flies in the US have been extremely problematic, this technique has brought their populations under control. This method also reduced the problematic and disease spreading tsetse fly problem on the island nation of Zanzibar.

Scientists are hoping this technique will help decrease the mosquito population, especially since results with mosquitoes previously have been not as successful. Gamma-irradiated male mosquitoes don’t seem to be as successful at mating with females as their wild counterparts. In the meantime, scientists are looking for alternative methods to sterilize males which includes using X-rays. The enormous amount of insects needed to keep populations in check is also staggering. A facility in Guatemala has to produce more than 2 billion sterile Medfly fruit flies per week in order to keep populations down in areas of Guatemala and California.

The IAEA admits the gamma method for reducing mosquito populations is still in its pilot stages, and long term results from Italy, Indonesia, and China have been encouraging. The next steps for Zika control is disease reduction as well as more research that verifies survival as well as early detection equipment. The IAEA is currently delivering virus detection equipment to Latin American and Caribbean countries with equipment training to be available in late March.

Long Island Prepares for Zika

Since the middle of March, nearly 480 cases of travel related Zika virus cases have been reported in the US. This is a huge increase from last month when that number was just 100. Some travelers returning from Zika affected areas are bringing the virus back with them.

This Zika Virus Podcast provides more information on the disease and it’s origion.

All over the United States, precautionary measures being taken to deal with Zika. Early this year a Zika virus testing station was set up at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow Long Island.

The hospital staff warns of symptoms associated with the Zika virus that should not be taken lightly for those returning from areas such as South American and the Caribbean. Symptoms include a fever, chills, headache and/or muscle aches. Symptoms including pink eye, vomiting and skin rash are also seen in those affected with Zika virus. If you or anyone you know has been traveling to Zika affected areas and is experiencing any of these symptoms they should make their way to the emergency department to be properly evaluated and treated.

With confirmed cases of Zika coming from Long Island it comes at no surprise. Nassau county has one of the biggest Latin populations on the northeast. Many residents frequent Zika affected areas, therefore local testing in this area is essential and testing stations are available. The testing stations at Nassau University Medical Center offer free blood and urine tests are sent to one of three Zika testing labs in the US located in Albany.

If a person tests positive for Zika they are advised to avoid sexual contact for at least four weeks and are advised to avoid getting pregnant for at least four weeks. Zika virus can spread to the pregnant woman’s fetus and cause a birth defect know as microcephaly. Microcephaly is a neurological condition which causes a baby to be born with a small head and brain. It’s also associated with severe developmental issues and can cause death. Pregnant women that test positive for the virus will receive obstetric counseling at the Nassau hospital.

Walk-ins at the Nassau hospital or its satellite health center are currently available for those with symptoms that have traveled to Zika affected areas. Test results are quick and will only take two to three days.

Cancer Treatment – Overview

Cancer can be a debilitating disease. It involves abnormal cell growth that can spread to other parts of the body, if not caught in time (for many cancers). There are over 100 different known cancers that affect humans.

Although, much medical advancement has been made in the treatment and early detection of cancer in the United States and elsewhere, such as Israel, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before a cure is found. You can help by following a healthy lifestyle, but if you think you might have cancer, contact your physician at once.

Possible signs and symptoms include: a new lump, abnormal bleeding, a prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements among others. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may also occur due to other issues.

Tobacco, obesity, alcohol, not eating health, lack of physical activity and/or heredity issues can be major factors towards acquiring the disease.

Melanoma is a common form of cancer, but is also one of the most treatable if caught in time. Similarly, prostate cancer, if detected early can also be treated and cured with a high degree of certainty. In contrast, certain cancers such as pancreatic cancer is less prone to treatment and the survival rate is unfortunately high among this disease.

Prevention is paramount. Don’t smoke, maintaining a healthy weight, drink alcohol moderately or not at all,, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Make sure you are vaccinated against certain infectious diseases, avoid processed red meat, and avoiding too much exposure to sunlight and go for regular check ups and follow up with preventative procedures; such as a colonoscopy and breast cancer testing.

The chance of survival depends on the type of cancer and extent of disease at the start of treatment, so make sure you visit your doctor on a consistent basis.

Read our articles on the advancements of cancer treatment to stay abreast of the latest medical technologies available.

 

Colorectal Cancer Awareness: The Importance of Screening and Prevention

Getting tested for colon cancer could prevent the disease and save someone’s life. However, colon cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women. As a result, March has been designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Individuals age 50 years and older should discuss colon cancer screening with their doctor. Unfortunately, many adults have never been screened and less than two-thirds are up to date. The importance of screening is that it can catch colon cancer before the symptoms develop. At this stage, the disease is easier to treat and survival rates are favorable.

The American Cancer Society has set a goal of increasing colon cancer screening rates to 80% by 2018. According to the Society, half of all colon cancer deaths could be prevented through regular testing.

There are a number of screening options, and which option is right for you depends on your risk. For instance, people with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or people who have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease should get a colonoscopy.

Although screening is only recommended for people age 50 years and older, which is when the majority of colorectal cancers are found in people, individuals with a family history of certain cancers or medical conditions may need to begin colonoscopy earlier and should discuss with their physician.

There are risk factors that the patient cannot control, such as age, personal or family history, and genetic conditions. Other risks can be controlled. The following factors are all linked to higher incidences of colorectal cancer and can be changed by the individual.

  • Lifestyle: low physical activity, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use
  • Diet: a diet high in beef, pork, and lamb, processed meats, and fats

In addition, there are some additional strategies that may be linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer, such as eating more foods with dietary fiber, including garlic in your diet, drinking more milk, and eating more foods with calcium.

What is the Zika Virus?


Zika MosquitoThe Zika virus is a disease that spreads to people primarily through the sting of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. However, many people might not even know if they have been infected, as most people who contract the Zika virus won’t know they have the disease because they won’t have symptoms, according to the CDC. In addition, most people who have the virus, don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika.

Zika Symptoms

Transferring the Disease

Zika is mainly spread by mosquitoes, but there have been reported cases of the virus being spread through sexual intercourse. In addition, the Zika virus may be spread through blood transfusions.

Active Locations of the Virus

Currently, there are 39 countries and territories with reported active local transmission of the virus, including Puerto Rico. While there has yet to be any local transmission of the virus in the continental United States, experts expect that to change as the weather warms up.

The virus has been around for many decades, but suddenly, it is now increasing in the human population at an alarming rate. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil and on Feb 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The following video illustrates the the sudden increase of the Zika virus

As Zika virus continues to spread worldwide, the urgent need for assistance in the countries affected grows. The International Atomic Energy Agency has recently announced a plan to help the 26 countries and territories reporting Zika virus infections.

Zike Virus World Map
The map above depicts the probability of occurrence (blue=none, red=highest occurrence).

Zika Risks to Humans

While the spread Zika virus is not on par with the deadly Ebola outbreak from 2014 that began in West Africa, the reason why Zika is causing such concern is because of the potential link to microcephaly. Women who are pregnant and develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes within 2 weeks of traveling to a country where Zika has been reported should see a doctor.

There has been a link between women infected with Zika and babies born with microcephaly, a birth defect that affects brain development, resulting in babies being born with much smaller heads than expected. Typically, microcephaly is not a common condition, and normally affects between 2 and 12 babies per 10,000.

Additional information can be found in Five Facts About the Zika Virus.

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