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[UPDATED] Two People Test Positive For Zika Virus In NYC

Rebecca Fishbein

Published Jan 28, 2016

Modified Jan 28, 2016

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Rebecca Fishbein

Published Jan 28, 2016

Modified Jan 28, 2016

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[UPDATES BELOW] Five people in New York State—two in NYC—have tested positive for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, and though the disease has not yet been found in any mosquitos in the United States, health officials are struggling to predict what will happen if and when the virus makes its way up from Zika-ravaged South and Central America.

Last week, it was reported that three people in the state, including one in Queens, had contracted the virus, though all three had recently traveled outside the United States to countries that have been affected by the outbreak, and officials confirmed there was "virtually no risk of acquiring Zika virus in New York State" in the winter. Still, the mosquitos that do carry the disease are active in the summer, and the Washington Post reports that they can be found all the way from Florida to Connecticut, west as far as Illinois.

Latin American countries are in the midst of a major Zika outbreak, and while the CDC says only one in 5 people infected with Zika will get sick—and serious illness and deaths are rare—there may be a link between pregnant women who've been infected with Zika and microcephaly, a birth defect that causes abnormally small heads.

Brazil has reported 4,180 cases of microcephaly since October, prompting the World Health Organization to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to decide whether the situation warrants declaring a public health emergency. “The level of concern is high, as is the level of uncertainty,” Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the W.H.O., said today. “Questions abound. We need to get some answers quickly.”

The CDC has issued travel warnings for pregnant women in 24 countries and territories that have been affected by the Zika outbreak. Zika symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), and there is no vaccine or medication to prevent or treat the virus.

Update 11:26 a.m.: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a letter today urging the National Institute of Health to work on research that may lead to a vaccine that could help combat the spread of Zika:

Dear Director Fauci: I write to urge you to prioritize research into developing diagnostic tests, vaccines and therapeutic drugs to fight the continued spread of the Zika virus. The Zika virus has now spread to at least 24 countries and territories. The imminent threat of Zika to the United States is deeply troubling, as are reports that the development of a vaccine could take as long as ten years. I strongly urge you to shift resources as necessary to aggressively combat this global health challenge. The Zika virus is transmitted by the aggressive Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. These mosquitos are found throughout much of the Americas, including several parts of the United States. Although local transmission of the Zika virus has not been documented in the continental United States, Zika virus infections have been reported in returning travelers. In light of the recent outbreaks in the Americas, the number of Zika cases among US travelers is likely to increase. These imported cases could possibly result in local human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus in areas of the United States that have the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito vectors. In addition to mosquito-to-human transmission - and of particular concern - is the transmission of the Zika virus during pregnancy. Several countries have already reported that babies born to infected mothers are suffering severe birth defects including microcephaly, a birth defect resulting in an abnormally small head that can cause developmental issues and even death. Over 4,000 babies in Brazil, the country currently most affected by the virus, have been born in the last year with microcephaly. While additional studies are needed to further characterize the relationship between intrauterine transmission and the development of microcephaly and other birth defects, this crisis has resulted in the issuance of unprecedented warnings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pregnant women to avoid travel in 14 countries and territories where Zika transmission is ongoing. Little progress has been made to date in the development of technologies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the Zika virus. Currently, the only way to prevent Zika virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. While the NIH has begun some initial work, additional investment in research and collaboration with scientists in other affected countries will be necessary to prevent the future spread of the virus. I urge the NIAID to prioritize research regarding the Zika virus. In doing so, I encourage NIAID to coordinate with other federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as with governments from other countries, to ensure that all efforts are being made to address this pressing matter. In addition, I will urge my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide NIAID with emergency funding to support your efforts in accelerating the development of screening, treatment and prevention technologies. Thank you for looking into this urgent issue. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator

Update 4:30 p.m.: City health officials say a third person, a pregnant woman, has tested positive for the Zika virus in NYC. She, like the other two patients, was infected while traveling abroad.

Officials say there's "no risk" of contracting Zika in New York in the winter, but they are urging travelers to take preventative measures when traveling to warmer climates.

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Rebecca Fishbein

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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