Zika in 30 Seconds: Archives (May – July)

Saturday-Sunday, July 30-31

The big news right now

• Zika cases are surging in Puerto Rico, and health officials fear hundreds of babies could be born with severe brain defects (STAT)
• A study suggests that all strains of the Zika virus are of the same serotype, a finding that could aid in the development of a vaccine against all strains (NIAID)
• US Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio of Florida want Congress to reconvene to provide funding for anti-Zika efforts (AP and press release)
• OneBlood has begun testing all blood it collects in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina for the Zika virus (press release)

Today’s must-reads

• Many polls indicate Americans aren’t overly concerned about Zika, but news of local mosquito transmission in Florida could change that (Washington Post)
• Now that local transmission of Zika in the US is a reality, Congress, as well as state and local governments, must take more forceful action (New York Times editorial)

Friday, July 29

The big news right now

• Florida confirms it is the first state to see locally transmitted Zika virus (STAT)
• The FDA has asked blood centers in two Florida counties to stop collections (FDA)
  
• The Cayman Islands began releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to fight against Zika, dengue, and chikungunya (Oxitec)
  
• Next month, New Zealand will begin monitoring babies who show signs of possible Zika infection, such as brain abnormalities (New Zealand Newswire)
  

Book report

With remarkable speed, the first mainstream book about the current Zika epidemic has been published, called “Zika: The Emerging Epidemic.” It’s “dense with information,” a New York Times review says, but notes that, in such a quickly evolving outbreak, that information can quickly become out of date. One example: Since the book went to press on June 1, health officials have found that the virus can spread via female-to-male sexual transmission and that it may even spread person-to-person by other routes.

Today’s must-read

• In the race to develop treatments for Zika, we may already have drugs approved that could work against the virus (STAT)

Thursday, July 28

The big news right now

• Two more cases of possible local Zika transmission have been reported in Florida, bringing the state’s total to four and heralding what could be the start of the first outbreak in the continental US (STAT)
• A 31-year-old woman’s miscarriage may have been caused by Zika (HealthDay News)
• Paraguay reported its first two cases of Zika-related microcephaly (Reuters)
• Florida senator Marco Rubio wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to more quickly distribute the limited existing Zika funds (letter)
• The makers of the “Yes to Sex” app have created a version specifically geared to athletes and spectators at the Olympic Games to encourage them to think through safe sex practices ahead of time (press release)

Blood safety

Hawaii is set to begin testing all its blood donations for Zika virus starting in September, as a safeguard against possibly having to go the route Puerto Rico did and import its blood supply from the mainland US. Assorted other local blood centers are testing for Zika, including some in Texas and in Florida, though FDA guidelines only suggest blood centers ask people about their possible Zika exposure. However, the guidelines say that areas of “active transmission” should test or import blood — which may soon mean that parts of Florida have to change their blood procedures.

Branding bonanza

Not to be outdone by OFF! — the first ever official Olympic bug spray — Fit Organic Mosquito Repellent announced that US Olympic gymnast Jake Dalton will serve as their official brand ambassador. (press release)

Officially a Brand Ambassador for @cleanwithFIT & can't wait to use Fit’s mosquito repellent to #fightzika pic.twitter.com/zdsSvpvxkr

— Jake Dalton (@jake_dalton) July 26, 2016

Wednesday, July 27

The big news right now

• Honduras reports eight babies born with severe Zika birth defects, five of them in just the past week (AP)
• The CDC has added Caribbean island Saba to its Zika travel advisory (CDC)
• Travel has been ruled out as the cause of two cases of possibly locally acquired Zika infection in Florida, but officials are still investigating possible person-to-person transmission (Miami Herald)
• IBM is donating more resources to combat Zika, including giving Brazilian researchers access to its software for travel monitoring and for mining Twitter sentiment, and giving UNICEF access to its weather modeling software (press release)

Vaccine progress

A person has been given Inovio’s experimental Zika vaccine, the first reported start of such human testing globally. The trial, which will involve 40 healthy adults, is designed simply to test the safety of the vaccine. Interim results are expected later this year. (press release)

Today’s must-reads

• Why does so much about the Zika virus, including all the ways it’s transmitted, remain a mystery? (Quartz)
• All the extremely absurd ways people are fighting Zika at the Rio Olympics (Smithsonian)

Tuesday, July 26

The big news right now

• Colombia declared the country’s Zika crisis over, but other health experts said it could just be a seasonal drop (STAT)
• A baby was born in Spain with Zika-related microcephaly, the first in Europe (the Guardian)
• New CDC guidance urges doctors in the US to inquire about pregnant women’s possible Zika exposure during each exam (AP)
• A mathematical analysis indicates that less than 80 visitors out of the thousands attending the Olympic Games will contract Zika virus in Rio (CNBC)

Number of the day: 76

That’s the number of days Zika virus persisted in an infected man’s semen in a recent case. The longest persistence previously observed was 62 days after first symptoms. (Emerging Infectious Diseases)

On people’s lips

“The cash donations have been slow. … Zika is the victim of bad timing coming at the heels of Ebola. There can be some donor fatigue.” — Dr. Judith Monroe, president of the CDC Foundation (US News & World Report)

Today’s must-reads

• Brazil asks whether Zika acts alone to cause birth defects (Nature)
• Zika’s untold war: Uncovering the role church and government play in combating the spread of Zika virus in El Salvador (Newsy)

Monday, July 25

The big news right now

• It’s “unlikely” that Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry will attend the Rio Olympics, though Kensington Palace denies that’s because of Zika (Express)
• The NIH is sponsoring studies to determine how effective grapefruit-derived nootkatone is at repelling and killing mosquitoes (press release)

Destination Zika

Visitors to the Dominican Republic make up a large proportion of the travel-associated cases in the US so far. Why? An analysis by Kaiser Health News points to the many Dominican immigrants in the US — it’s the fifth largest Hispanic group — as well as the fact that when travelers visit family they “tend to make longer visits and often stay in residential locations” than tourists do. Finally, it could also be the case that Dominican-Americans are more aware of the virus and are seeking more testing, points out the New York City Health Department.

Model of preparedness

US women’s soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo took to Twitter to show off her Zika-protective gear.

Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/y3d8hnuEjk

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016

Today’s must-read

• Scientist who mapped US Zika risk now working on awareness app (Women’s e-News)

Saturday-Sunday, July 23-24

The big news right now

• New York City reported its first baby born with Zika-related microcephaly (NYC Department of Health)
• A contractor at Guantanamo Bay has been diagnosed with the Zika virus (AP)
• Alaska has its first confirmed case of travel-related Zika (Alaska Dispatch News)

On people’s lips

“The virus is flowing through Miami International Airport every day. There are thousands and thousands of people coming back into our area from those countries that may be affected, they may not be.” — Chalmers Vasquez, Miami’s head of mosquito control (NPR)

Lingo to know

Bti: A larvicide that Puerto Rico plans to use instead of the CDC-recommended insecticide naled. Bti, which stands for Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills mosquito larvae when they eat its spores.

Today’s must-reads

• With more than 7,500 cases of Zika in the Cape Verde region in recent months, more attention must be paid to the outbreak in Africa (the Lancet)
• This year, it’s the Zika virus. But what about next year? (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Friday, July 22

The big news right now

• A possible second case of local Zika infection in the continental US has been reported (STAT)
• No mosquitoes trapped in Miami-Dade County have yet tested positive for the virus (Miami Herald)
• The Zika virus has been found in the Culex mosquito, which is much more widespread than the Aedes species, though it is unclear whether it may be spreading the virus to people (Washington Post)
• Starting Aug. 1, the CDC will begin distributing $60 million in Zika funds to states, territories, and local authorities (CDC)
• Monaco’s Princess Charlene won’t be in Rio to watch the Olympics because of Zika concerns (People)

Whiff of desperation

Following on from an editorial in which he assured visitors that the Olympics would be safe, Brazil Health Minister Ricardo Barros has now sent personal letters to top athletes urging them to come to the Olympics. The letters went to 10 athletes, including Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, who are currently planning to attend, as well as Jordan Spieth and Marc Leishman, who have said they won’t. (Bloomberg)

Deceptive display

In-store marketing to point people to Zika prevention products is a good idea, in theory — except when staffers stock the shelves with allergy spray.

.@DuaneReade this is irresponsible. pic.twitter.com/HGP4XslPuJ

— Dan Lewis (@DanDotLewis) July 20, 2016

Today’s must-read

• No, you cannot catch Zika from drinking water that contains the virus, and other Zika myths debunked (the Culture Trip)

Thursday, July 21

The big news right now

• The CDC may give Florida an additional $5.6 million in funding to help determine whether a case reported earlier this week is the first instance of Zika infection by a mosquito in the continental US (White House)
• San Diego biotech JAJ International is trying to get approval from Brazilian regulators for its Zika virus diagnostic test (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• The FDA granted emergency use authorization to Eurofins Scientific’s Zika virus test (GenomeWeb)

Hype watch

“Suspending a chicken over your bed could protect against Zika virus and malaria” read the headline in the Telegraph. Scientists isolated odor molecules from chickens’ feathers and put them near a mosquito trap, and found that the bugs avoided the vicinity. But crucially the study was on Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, an entirely different genus than the ones that carry Zika. So while it might work against malaria, don’t count on chicken protection from Zika.

Today’s must-reads

• The Brazilian Ministry of Health has launched a smartphone app that will allow authorities to monitor possible Zika symptoms among visitors to and residents of Rio during the Olympic Games (Huffington Post)
• There’s a higher risk of getting the flu at the Rio Olympics than of getting the Zika virus (Vox)

Wednesday, July 20

The big news right now

• Florida may have recorded the first case of locally acquired Zika in the continental US (STAT)
• The devastating April earthquake in Ecuador has resulted in a twelvefold increase in the number of Zika cases in the country (UNICEF)
• At the Republican National Convention last night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Democrats for the Senate’s recent impasse on Zika funding (STAT)
• The hepatitis C drug Sovaldi has shown an antiviral effect against Zika in test tube studies (the Scientist)

Mom jeans, manspread, and Zika

Zika virus is among 300 new terms being added to Dictionary.com’s list of words. Others include mom jeans, manspread, and Pokemon. (New York Daily News)

Infection confusion

After 11 RNC attendees from California came down with symptoms of norovirus, misinformation abounds, reports Doug Sovern with radio station KCBS. (Twitter)

CA delegate tells me he's not afraid of norovirus. "I'm not planning on having any more kids." Um, that's Zika. This is a stomach one. "Oh."

— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) July 19, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• Millennials are rethinking their travel plans and possible future pregnancies in light of Zika (Conde Nast Traveler)
• How Zika breaks into the brain (the Atlantic)

Tuesday, July 19

The big news right now

• Health officials in Utah are investigating the most mysterious case of Zika yet, wherein a man was infected apparently by caring for his ailing father (STAT)
• An antibiotic may limit the damage caused by Zika, according to tests on cells in a dish (STAT)
• Florida officials recorded 18 new cases of Zika infection on Friday, the state’s highest one-day count (Florida Politics)
• Advocacy group Ipas is challenging strict abortion laws in a case set to be heard by Brazil’s supreme court next month. The group says any woman infected with Zika during pregnancy should have the right to an abortion (the Guardian)

What a ride

Among its other public health efforts around Zika, Harris County, Texas, has a “Skeeter Schoolbus” to educate children about mosquitoes — but whether that means it looks like a giant insect is unknown, because photos are sadly lacking. If you spot the skeeter bus, snap a photo and send it our way!

Today’s must-reads

• Not everyone who wants to get tested for Zika should (Huffington Post)
• The CDC says it is “extremely, extremely unlikely” that the Zika virus can be contracted by airborne transmission (Washington Examiner)

Monday, July 18

The big news right now

• Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych is the third tennis player to withdraw from the Olympics because of Zika (WBT)
• South Carolina has 18 reported cases of Zika (WYFF)

Hype watch

“Olympic Games could spread Zika virus around the world” warns the headline of a story yesterday in the British paper the Mirror. But that’s based on one scientist in the UK; when the CDC thoroughly analyzed the risk, it found only four countries were at risk of getting Zika imported to them.

On people’s lips

“Knowing this is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and by humans means we should be investigating it as if we’re part of the world, and not shielded from it.” — Paul Farmer, physician and humanitarian (the Atlantic)

Today’s must-read

• Zika data from the lab, and right to the web (New York Times)

Saturday-Sunday, July 16-17

The big news right now

• Puerto Rico reported the biggest weekly rise in Zika cases yet, with 1,336 new cases for the week ending June 30, including 533 pregnant women diagnosed with the virus (AP)
• Tennis players Milos Raonic of Canada, the men’s Wimbledon finalist, and Simona Halep of Romania, the fifth-ranked women’s player in the world, withdrew from the Rio Olympics, citing the Zika virus (New York Times)
• Two patients who were infected with the Zika virus have developed severe thrombocytopenia, a clotting disorder (Clinical Infectious Diseases)
• Brazilian researchers have observed a sharp increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis (Neurology)

On people’s lips

“And this excuse about Zika is feeble. You have Zika in America in some states right now. You’ve got more of a chance of being killed by a gun or a motorcar in America than getting Zika.” — Golf legend Gary Player calling out the game’s top pros who have elected to bypass the Rio Olympics (Fox Business)

Today’s must-reads

• The spread of AIDS in the 1980s may offer a glimpse into the future of the Zika virus (CNN)
• With Congress unable to reach a deal on Zika funding, an outbreak of the virus is bound to occur in the US, translating to more babies born with microcephaly (Vox)

Friday, July 15

The big news right now

• The first case of female-to-male sexual transmission of Zika has been reported in New York City (STAT)
• Congress is going on break without a deal for Zika funding (STAT)
• The CDC has posted a Zika travel notice for St. Eustatius, an island in the West Indies (CDC)
• Pennsylvania has begun distributing Zika prevention kits to pregnant women (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The current Zika crisis in the Americas may be over in one to two years (STAT)

Number of the day: 9

As of July 7, the number of liveborn infants in the US with Zika-related birth defects has risen to nine, while the total number of pregnant women diagnosed with the virus rose to 346. (CDC)

On people’s lips

Former Ebola czar Ron Klain took to Twitter Thursday night to warn about the repercussions that lie ahead thanks to congressional inaction.

Congress decides to leave for summer with no #Zika response. US will suffer the consequences for years to come.

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) July 14, 2016

Thursday, July 14

The big news right now

• Despite fears that the Rio Olympics could spread the Zika virus globally, the CDC said only four countries may be significantly impacted by the games (STAT)
• Texas has seen its first case of Zika-related microcephaly (Time)
• The CDC is seeking sperm samples from hundreds of American men who’ve had Zika to figure out how long the virus persists in semen (CNN)
• Air Canada will suspend nonstop flights to Rio de Janeiro from Toronto indefinitely starting in mid-October, partly because of the Zika virus (Travelweek)

Lingo to know

Nootkatone: a grapefruit-scented compound that the CDC has been studying for its mosquito-repellent qualities, and has already licensed to several companies (News West 9)

Mocked by a mosquito

A man in a mosquito costume, representing NARAL Pro-Choice America, handed out bug spray outside the Senate hearing on the Zika virus. (Huffington Post)

A mosquito from @NARAL has crashed Rubio's Senate hearing on Zika pic.twitter.com/Xu05sqrgX7

— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) July 13, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• The fading Ebola epidemic has lessons for the upcoming Zika crisis (STAT)
• Largely shunned by society, Brazilian mothers to babies born with Zika-related microcephaly are bonding (ABC13)
• Republicans legislators in Washington need to stop using a proposed Zika funding bill as a weapon against Planned Parenthood (STAT)

Wednesday, July 13

The big news right now

• “Time has run out” begins a letter sent by over 50 organizations, including March of Dimes and American Academy of Pediatrics, to congressional leaders, imploring them to pass a Zika bill this week (letter)
• Themis Bioscience has licensed technology from Institut Pasteur for the development of a Zika vaccine and expects to begin a clinical trial in the next 12 months (Reuters)
• The Zika virus has been detected in the female genital tract for the first time (the Lancet Infectious Diseases)
• Former gold medalist rower Sir Steve Redgrave said potential big payoffs at the major tournaments, and not the Zika virus, are the real reason golfers are skipping the Rio Olympics (Reuters)

Mystery in Colombia

Colombia is second only to Brazil in the number of Zika infections in its population. But it continues to have a much lesser rate of microcephaly than its larger neighbor, which has health experts scratching their heads. It may be that more pregnancies are being terminated in Colombia, though abortion providers don’t report an uptick. It could be that the cases are just yet to be seen, or that the numbers are wrong. Or it could be that other factors in Brazil, like genetics or other viruses, made the infection worse there. (Washington Post)

On people’s lips

“The money that we were spending in February, March, April, and May [on Zika] was money that we would be spending in July and August [on the other research]. We were borrowing money. We were mortgaging our resources.” — NIAID Director Anthony Fauci on having to divert government funds from other research to Zika-related work (Kaiser Health News)

Today’s must-reads

• Athletes’ families put aside Rio’s health, security risks to support Olympic dreams (Washington Post)
• Experts warn spraying may not be very effective against Aedes (CIDRAP)

Tuesday, July 12

The big news right now

• Romania has reported its first case of Zika virus (Reuters)
• Local health officials are making emergency funding plans in the event that federal Zika funding doesn’t get approved by Congress this week (NBC)
• The US’s Jordan Spieth, South Korea’s Kim Kyung-tae, and the Philippines’s Angelo Que will forego the Rio Olympics out of fears about the Zika virus (New York Times, Yonhap News, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson said that the world’s top golfers who have chosen to skip the Olympics because of Zika are overreacting (the Telegraph)

Number of the day: 13

Florida recorded 13 new cases of the Zika virus on Monday, setting a new one-day record for the state, which now has 276 total cases of the virus. (Palm Beach Post)

On people’s lips

The GOP this week added to its platform a statement designating pornography as a public health crisis. In response, Twitter users decried the lack of attention to other health concerns including Zika.

I was a moron for thinking it was Zika, guns, and opioid dependency. https://t.co/uMUEgfZH2r

— Amitabh Chandra (@amitabhchandra2) July 12, 2016

I would've put it below gun deaths, insufficient health insurance and Zika, but what do I know? https://t.co/94mUhQhFoI

— John Rogers (@jonrog1) July 12, 2016

Today’s must-read

• A recent study suggests that the antibiotic azithromycin may have use for treating the Zika virus (Quanta)

Monday, July 11

The big news right now

• Congress begins its recess on Friday, and it’s very uncertain whether a Zika funding bill will be passed before then (USA Today)
• Meanwhile, 139 days have passed since President Obama’s request for Zika funding (STAT)

Live bait

For a quick gauge of mosquito density, officials in Burlington County, N.J., “send a guy out in shorts and a T-shirt [to] stand there with his arms out” near the river, according to Joe New, an inspector with the county’s mosquito control commission. “If we count more than 100 on him in a minute, we call in the fixed-wing aircraft.” (Philly.com)

On people’s lips

“Fast forward to Zika — we don’t have a silver bullet. We cannot spray our way out of this.” — Dr. Umar Shah, executive director of Harris County, Texas, public health department (the Guardian)

Today’s must-read

• Recife, Brazil: the heart of the Zika outbreak (Washington Post)

Saturday-Sunday, July 9-10

The big news right now

• Utah health officials reported the first Zika-related death in the continental US, although it is unclear what role the virus may have played in the death (Washington Post)
• State and city governments are investing $21 million over three years as part of a New York City mosquito vigilance effort and a “Zika response plan” (WNYC)
• American golfer Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Olympics citing Zika, meaning that three of the world’s four top golfers will now not compete (ESPN)

Number of the day: 40%

In the latest numbers, for the week ending June 23, Puerto Rico said there was a one-week jump of 40 percent in the number of pregnant women on the island who were diagnosed with Zika. (Puerto Rico Department of Health)

On people’s lips

Comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien countered athletes’ Zika fears with his own concerns on Twitter.

Fears of the Zika virus will probably keep me from watching the Olympic men’s tennis doubles.

— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) July 8, 2016

Today’s must-read

• Why Congress’ Zika impasse could awaken Ebola menace (Politico)

Friday, July 8

The big news right now

• The CDC is monitoring 320 pregnant women in the US who appear to have the Zika virus (Reuters)
• French biotech Valneva said it may have a vaccine against Zika, though it provided scant details (Reuters)
• GlaxoSmithKline yesterday threw its hat into the ring of drug makers looking for a Zika vaccine, joining Sanofi as one of the largest drug makers involved in the Zika R&D effort (Fierce Pharma)
• Pathogenic fungi could help kill off larval mosquitoes, a new study finds (Cosmos)

Swaddled safely

A company that makes mosquito-repellant blankets is providing the US Olympic team with red, white, and blue protective blankets to take to Rio. However, whether athletes want to wrap up in a blanket in between sweaty bouts of athleticism might be another story. (WFMY)

A new scent-sation

“Perfumes that double as bug repellent are having a moment,” reports the New York Times. Some top choices: Coqui Coqui, which is apparently just citrus oil in a nice bottle; Aromaflage, which has orange oil and cedar; and the cleverly named Unstung Hero, which contains insect repellant IR3535. But many oils and extracts haven’t been proven to ward off the bugs, and the CDC doesn’t recommend their use. (New York Times)

Today’s must-read

• New insights into how Zika harms the brain (Quanta)

Thursday, July 7

The big news right now

• Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader, said that Democrats will again block a proposed Republican bill for Zika funding in an upcoming vote (The Hill)
• About one-sixth of Ebola funds that were diverted to fight the Zika virus have been distributed so far by the White House (Politico)
• US health officials urge Puerto Rico to strongly consider aerial spraying to prevent further spread of Zika (AP)

Dear Olympic contenders

To go or not to go? It’s a question that many athletes are grappling with ahead of the Rio Games. STAT’s infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell, who’s been covering the virus closely, has some advice for them — read her letter to potential competitors here.

Number of the day: 11

That’s the number of Zika infections confirmed in Florida yesterday, a record high for one day. (Miami Herald)

Today’s must-read

• Blood banks could feel the squeeze from Zika advisories (Kaiser Health News)

Wednesday, July 6

The big news right now

• Brazil will distribute 9 million condoms for free during the Rio Olympic games to protect against the Zika virus (Yahoo)
• Sanofi is partnering with the US Army to speed up the development of a vaccine for Zika (Reuters)
• Brazil’s Butantan Institute is working with a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization to develop a vaccine against the Zika virus (Wall Street Journal)

Twins diverge

Researchers are studying six sets of twins in Brazil in which one infant has microcephaly and the other does not. Specifically they are curious whether genetic differences between the babies might explain their different response to Zika infection in utero. (CNN)

Bats to the rescue

One town on Long Island, N.Y., is turning to bats, which can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes per hour, in the battle against the Zika virus. North Hempstead has approved the building of bat houses in order to attract more of the critters. (New York Times)

Today’s must-read

• Women and children are political pawns in the Zika funding battle (Time)

Tuesday, July 5

The big news right now

• Rihanna has dropped out of a music festival in Colombia due to fears about Zika, causing the cancellation of the event (BBC)
• Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama became the seventh male golfer to pull out of the Rio Olympics, citing the Zika virus (ESPN)
• Most of the attention on transmission of Zika has been on mosquito bites, but some researchers are more concerned about its transmission through sex (New York Times)

Number of the day: 1,000

That’s how many Olympic athletes, coaches, and staff researchers plan to enroll in a study of Zika virus exposure in Rio. Participants will provide samples of bodily fluids and fill out health surveys; they’ll be tracked not just during the games but for up to a year after. (NIH)

Today’s must-reads

• SC Johnson’s OFF! brand has become the Olympics’ first-ever insect repellent partner. Thousands of bottles will be distributed to athletes, staff, and volunteers to help ward off mosquitoes that may carry Zika. (Bloomberg)
• Health officials are frustrated by complacency among the the American public and politicians with the Zika virus. (NBC)
• Thailand is wary as more Zika cases are reported. (Nikkei Asian Review)

Saturday-Monday, July 2-4

The big news right now

• The CDC is awarding $25 million to 53 state, city, and territorial health departments to fight the Zika virus. (CDC)
• Researchers tested different methods used to disinfect and clean laboratories to see how well they fared against the Zika virus. (Emerging Infectious Diseases)
• For the first time, the Zika virus has been linked to uveitis, an eye infection that can result in glaucoma, cataracts, and vision loss. (Boston Herald)

Zika fears spur awkward talks at work

The Zika virus is leading to awkward conversations at work, as some employees feel they must disclose their plans to get pregnant, or go public with a pregnancy in its very early stages, in order to avoid being sent to Zika-affected regions for work. One law professor said “it’s easy” to imagine a potential lawsuit against an employer if a worker gets infected with Zika after being sent to an area where the virus is prevalent. (Huffington Post)

Number of the day: 10

Florida confirmed 10 new cases of the Zika virus, its highest single-day figure. Statewide there have been 246 cases this year. (Miami Herald)

Today’s must-reads

• Brazil will conduct aerial spraying of insecticides to target mosquitoes that carry Zika. But the move has some people concerned. (Wall Street Journal)
• President Obama is calling on Congress to end its stalemate on Zika funding before it goes on summer recess. (Reuters)
• But some say that even if a funding deal is reached before the recess, it is already too late. (Time)

Friday, July 1

The big news right now

• Three more babies were born in the US with birth defects likely linked to the Zika virus, bringing the total now to seven (Reuters)
• The March of Dimes is petitioning Congress to fund Zika prevention efforts, following the failure of the Senate earlier this week to pass a $1.1 billion bill to fight the virus (Washington Post)
• The University of Michigan has cancelled a football camp for high school players in American Samoa due to concerns about Zika (Fox Sports)

What’s ahead

This morning President Obama meets with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden to hear about the status of the response to Zika.

Fact check

“Mosquitoes are more likely to bite pregnant women,” the New York Post headline warns, going on to talk about the risk of Zika to fetuses. But the research it points to looked at Anopheles gambiae — a mosquito that doesn’t transmit Zika and lives only in Africa.

On people’s lips

“That is completely, ethically cockamamie. You can’t take away contraceptive funding and say you care about preventing Zika. You just can’t.” — Arthur Caplan, bioethicist at New York University School of Medicine, on Republicans adding provisions to defund Planned Parenthood to the congressional Zika bill that failed (Religion News Service)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika fears are growing among women in US (Wall Street Journal)
• Zika could hit people in poverty hardest (USA Today)

Thursday, June 30

The big news right now

• Borrowing money from other programs, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has started a study of sexual transmission of Zika in Brazil and Colombia (Reuters)
• The CDC yesterday added Anguilla to its Zika travel warning, saying local mosquito transmission of the virus has been reported there (CDC)
• South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace became the first woman golfer to drop out of the Rio Olympics because of the Zika virus (Golf Digest)

Mixed funding feelings

Seventy-three percent of respondents in a new poll are in favor of fully funding the Zika response, to the tune of the $1.9 billion originally requested by President Obama. But many fewer, 46 percent, say Congress should approve it immediately. (ABC News/Washington Post)

Depressing fact of the day

The three-month Olympic torch relay leading up to the games in Rio de Janeiro this summer has a bigger budget than the WHO’s two-year plan to fight Zika. (Bloomberg)

Today’s must-reads

• What the US could learn from Cuba about ending Zika (Reuters)
• The danger of a third-trimester Zika infection (the Atlantic)
• Scientists thought Colombia had dodged Zika-linked microcephaly. Not anymore (WLRN)

Wednesday, June 29

The big news right now

• As expected, the Senate failed to pass the Zika funding bill yesterday — leaving little time for lawmakers to approve funding before they go on a seven-week break (STAT)
• Studies in monkeys found that pregnancy prolongs the length of time that the virus stays in the body, but that getting infected once protects against future infection (Washington Post)

Making more mosquitoes

In the world’s largest “mosquito factory,” in Guangzhou, China, researchers are infecting mosquitoes with a strain of Wolbachia bacteria to make them more resistant to Zika virus. The mosquitoes are being tested on Shezai Island and may be ramped up to other areas as well. (CBC News)

On people’s lips

“If I have to write on a piece of paper my top 10 worries [for the Olympics] today, Zika wouldn’t be there.” — Sidney Levy, CEO of the Rio Organizing Committee (AP)

Today’s must-read

• In Puerto Rico, one expectant mother’s Zika “nightmare” (Roll Call)

Tuesday, June 28

The big news right now

• The Florida Department of Health today confirmed the first Zika-related case of microcephaly in a child born in Florida (Florida Health)
• Two new experimental vaccines protect mice against Zika, a study out today shows (STAT)
• Australian Jason Day, the world’s top golfer, has also withdrawn from the Olympics — the sixth such golfer to do so (BBC)
• The federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has tapped Maryland drug maker Emergent BioSolutions to develop a vaccine for Zika (Baltimore Sun)

On people’s lips

“If you’ve ever lived in Brazil, you’ve come to expect frequent civic demonstrations. But I saw none about Zika.” — Glafira Marcon (Star Tribune)

Political paralysis

The Senate will vote today on the final Zika bill, but it’s not looking promising. Failure to pass would hopefully force House and Senate negotiators back to the table, but if no bill is passed this week, Congress will have less than two weeks left in July to try to work out a compromise before both houses adjourn until after Labor Day. (USA Today)

Meanwhile, it’s been 126 days since the administration requested emergency funding.

Monday, June 27

The big news right now

• Though golfers are dropping like flies, most of the world’s elite tennis players have said they’re not worried about Zika at the Olympics (AP)
• Zika presents a heightened risk to homeless families, a charity in Tampa says, and the organization is distributing protective supplies in response (AP)

Pre-Games infection

While many athletes have expressed concern over contracting Zika in Rio, Jamaican sprinter Kemar Bailey-Cole says he has already contracted the virus. The good news is, that will likely make him immune to infection later this summer. The bad news: He is competing in the country’s Olympic trials this week. (BBC)

On people’s lips

“Another possibility … is that the placenta and the fetus became infected and continued to release virus into the bloodstream.” — Thaddeus Golos, a pregnancy expert at University of Wisconsin, on some surprising findings in monkey models of Zika (STAT)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika may be an election issue in Florida, a crucial swing state (Boston Globe)
• Fear of Zika virus is putting a damper on destination weddings (New York Times)

Saturday-Sunday, June 25-26

The big news right now

• Puerto Rico yesterday reported a big jump in the number of pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection — from 191 to 299 (PR Department of Health)
• South African Branden Grace is the fourth golfer to cite the Zika virus as a reason not to participate in this year’s Olympic Games (USA Today)
• In the other camp, Chicago Bulls basketball star Pau Gasol says he wants to play in the Olympics despite concerns over the Zika virus. (Chicago Tribune)

On people’s lips

Former Ebola czar Ron Klain took to Twitter Thursday night to criticize Congress’s failure to pass a Zika bill before they went on recess.

With US House gone, no #Zika response package until July. Congress to pregnant women: you are on your own. https://t.co/PfQQuxINEs

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) June 24, 2016

A range of impacts

Evidence is mounting that Zika’s effects on fetuses can take a range of forms. A study to be presented at a conference next week reports joint problems, seizures, vision impairment, trouble feeding, and persistent crying as health issues that Zika appears to contribute to. (Scientific American)

Today’s must-reads

• Without federal funding, counties brace to confront Zika on their own (Washington Post)

Friday, June 24

The big news right now

• The House passed a $1.1 billion bill to combat Zika on Wednesday, but it falls short of the requested funding, and the White House is threatening to veto it (STAT)
• A new study provides more evidence that prior infection with dengue may make Zika infection worse (Science)
• The latest tally from the CDC shows one more infant in the United States has been born with Zika-related birth defects, and one more Zika-related “pregnancy loss” has been reported (CDC)
• Florida Governor Rick Scott will allocate $26.2 million in state funds to battle Zika after the federal government did not approve Zika funding in time for the start of hurricane season (News release)

Whiff of desperation?

Ricardo Barros, Brazil’s minister of health, took to the pages of the Miami Herald to urge people to come to the Olympic Games, writing, “The circulation of the Zika virus will not keep us from having a safe and unforgettable event for athletes, participants and spectators.” The oped may have been prompted by recent numbers showing just half as many Americans are expected to go to the games as in earlier projections. (Miami Herald)

Musical chairs

After Irish golfer Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Olympics this week, a game of musical chairs has been set off among the country’s golf greats. Graeme McDowell was next in line, but he turned it down because his wife is pregnant; next up is Pádraig Harrington, for whom it holds a special meaning — Harrington was one of the players who pushed hardest for golf to be reinstated as an Olympic sport. (Irish Examiner)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika is the “most difficult” emergency health response ever, CDC official says (Atlantic)
• Bug spray may have a permanent spot in people’s medicine cabinet as long as Zika remains a threat (Washington Post)

Thursday, June 23

The big news right now

• The House passed a $1.1 billion Zika funding bill in the early morning hours today largely along party lines, and it’s being bitterly criticized by the White House and congressional Democrats (STAT)
• The Zika outbreak has spread to the Caribbean island of Anguilla, according to the WHO. Expect the CDC to add Anguilla to its travel advisory in response (WHO)
• Requests for abortion-inducing drugs have shot up in some Zika-affected countries, a new study finds (STAT)

Travel tiff

Bali’s hoteliers are upset over Australia’s recent travel advisory warning citizens about Zika risk in Indonesia. Neither the CDC nor the WHO report ongoing Zika transmission in the country, but the virus is considered endemic there, meaning it crops up in low numbers from time to time. But Australia supplies the bulk of Bali’s tourism, and the hotel association in Bali says the warning is unfounded. (Travel Daily)

Number of the day: 100,000

That’s the current estimate of American visitors expected to attend the Rio Olympics, down from an initial estimate of 200,000. (USA Today)

Today’s must-read

• Zika and the Bubonic Plague: a lesson from the Middle Ages (Pacific Standard)

Wednesday, June 22

The big news right now

• Irish golfer Rory McIlroy will skip the Rio Olympics over Zika worries (the Telegraph)
• US and Brazilian researchers are launching a new study of approximately 10,000 pregnant women in Zika-affected areas to evaluate the virus’s health impacts (AP)
• 10 pregnant women in Dallas County, Texas, have tested positive for Zika (Dallas Morning News)

A Microsoft skeeter trap

Texas health officials are testing a new mosquito trap built by Microsoft. The trap will identify Zika-spreading mosquitoes, catch them, and then send an alert to officials. (CNN)

What’s your risk of getting Zika?

How likely is it that you will get the Zika this summer? The Washington Post has made a useful graphic to answer that question. Explore it here.

What Zika means for you: Assess your risk https://t.co/Jzrp8l7nll pic.twitter.com/25bm7Pgo2b

— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 21, 2016

Number of the day: 5 percent

That’s the percentage of tested New Yorkers that have Zika. (New York Daily News)

Today’s must-reads

• Inside the US Army lab racing to create a Zika vaccine (Wired)
• CDC and states ponder plans to keep ahead of Zika (New York Times)
• What we know about the first Zika vaccine trial by Inovio Pharmaceuticals (ABC News)

Tuesday, June 21

The big news right now

• The US government will fund technology to help reduce the risk of Zika being transmitted through the blood supply (Reuters)
• Nearly six months after the first Zika cases were confirmed in Haiti, the most dire predictions for the country have not materialized (Washington Post)
• Australia is advising pregnant women to consider postponing travel to Indonesia due to a Zika outbreak there (Daily Mail)
• Health advice published today by the WHO for the Summer Olympics includes Zika as only one of a number of health concerns travelers should be aware of, including typhoid fever, food poisoning, and tickborne Brazilian spotted fever (WHO)

On people’s lips

“It all started with some pain in my toes, which I thought was just a result of my feet swelling from the extreme Caribbean heat.” — Chrissy Rutherford, who contracted Zika in Jamaica (Harper’s Bazaar)

Zika in New York

Meg Tirrell, cohost of STAT’s Signal podcast, spotted this on the NYC subway.

#Zika awareness campaign on NYC subways pic.twitter.com/UcVxotnZBx

— Meg Tirrell (@megtirrell) June 20, 2016

Number of the day: 1 million

That’s how many pregnancies could be at risk of Zika exposure in US Gulf Coast states. (Reuters)

Today’s must-read

• Zika and children: What parents need to know (NPR)

Monday, June 20

The big news right now

• The FDA has approved the first Phase 1 human trial of a Zika vaccine (STAT)
• Only a small fraction of contraceptives donated in Puerto Rico to prevent Zika-related birth defects are getting to the women who need them (Reuters)
• US Senator Chuck Schumer heads to Albany today to urge New York’s Congress to provide $1.9 billion in emergency funding to fight the virus (News10)

Preying on Zika fears

Entrepreneurs across the US are flooding the market with a slew of products they say will fight mosquitoes and Zika. The problem, reports STAT’s Rebecca Robbins: Many are unproven and questionable. (STAT)

Today’s must-reads

• Here’s who’s skipping the Olympics over Zika fears (International Business Times)
• CDC’s Zika tally will likely never be accurate because of late start (Newsweek)

Saturday-Sunday, June 18-19

The big news right now

• Zika is spreading so rapidly in Puerto Rico that the island could see hundreds of babies born with Zika-linked microcephaly, the CDC said. (STAT)
• The FDA granted Hologic emergency authorization to sell its Zika test, increasing the number of labs that can test for the virus. (Reuters)

Mosquito-fighting tech?

LG is now selling a mosquito-repelling TV in India. The TV has “Mosquito Away Technology” that the company says uses ultrasonic waves to fend off mosquitoes. (Reuters)

Number of the day: 400

Florida’s Broward County is getting 400 calls a day for mosquito spraying, twice the regular amount for this time of year. So far, the county has reported 24 cases of Zika. (Kaiser Health News)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika testing lags in New York City for a vulnerable group. (New York Times)
• The high cost of failing to fund the Zika fight. (US News)

Friday, June 17

The big news right now

• Three US infants have been born with Zika-related birth defects, the CDC said. Three other pregnancies in the US have also been affected but they were not carried to term (STAT)
• The CDC also reported 234 pregnant women in the continental US have been infected with Zika (New York Times)
• The WHO said $122 million is needed for a global response to the Zika virus (Reuters)

Funding coming?

Lawmakers negotiating a Zika funding package have said they’d like to pass something as soon as possible, and STAT’s sources said a final deal could be ready as soon as Tuesday night. The big question: the raw dollar amount that’ll be given to the Zika response plan. (STAT)

Hype watch

There is no vaccine or FDA-approved drugs to treat Zika. That isn’t stopping people from selling “natural” remedies for Zika online. They range from mosquito shield bands to telling people to eat dirt. (Gizmodo)

Number of the day: 35

The number of pools on abandoned property that a New Jersey town has slated for demolition in an effort to reduce mosquito breeding grounds. (CBS Local)

Today’s must-read

• Is the risk of catching Zika greater in poor neighborhoods? (NPR)

Thursday, June 16

The big news right now

• Zika infection can damage fetuses even if pregnant women show no symptoms (STAT)
• Nearly 12,000 pregnant women in Colombia have reported having Zika (TIME)
• Members of the House and Senate met Wednesday to formally kick off their negotiations on a funding package to address the Zika virus (The Atlantic)
• Embattled blood-testing startup Theranos plans to present a new blood test for Zika at a conference in August (Business Insider)

Taking precautions

If Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol goes to the Rio Olympics, he may freeze his sperm first, he said. He joins at least two others who have publicly announced they’ll do the same: John Speraw, coach of the US men’s indoor volleyball team, and Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford. (ESPN, New York Times)

Number of the day: 65,726

The number of Zika cases in Colombia from Aug. 9, 2015, through April 2, 2016, according to a New England Journal of Medicine report. (NEJM)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika: The epidemic at America’s door (Rolling Stone)
• Summer camps say they’re not sweating over Zika risk (NPR)

Wednesday, June 15

The big news right now

• The Rio Olympics pose a “very low risk” of spreading Zika further internationally, a WHO expert panel concluded (STAT)
• El Salvador confirmed its first case of Zika-linked microcephaly (Reuters)
• Researchers say it is highly likely that Zika can be transmitted through blood transfusions (NIH)

Hype watch

Should women intentionally try to get Zika before they conceive as a way to immunize themselves against the disease? So asks ELLE magazine, which then shoots down the idea after interviewing experts. (ELLE)

On people’s lips

“It needs to be the same as putting on sunscreen or brushing your teeth.” ­— Michael Beach, deputy incident manager for the CDC’s Zika response team, advising Americans to use bug spray daily (Bloomberg)

Today’s must-reads

• CDC preparing to deploy strike teams to limit spread of Zika (STAT)
• Republicans, who warned of dithering on Ebola, now hesitate on Zika (New York Times)
• Gaps in women’s healthcare may derail Zika prevention in Texas, Florida (Kaiser Health News)

Tuesday, June 14

The big news right now

• Today the WHO is convening an emergency committee on Zika. One topic of discussion will be if the Rio Olympics should be postponed or moved because of Zika fears (WHO)
• A University of Alabama student who recently studied abroad has tested positive for Zika (AL.com)

Travel bug

Summer tourism will place some parts of Europe at risk of local spread of Zika, a new study suggests. The cities in Europe most likely to be affected: Barcelona, Milan, and Rome. (STAT)

Number of the day: 87 percent

The number of Zika cases in Brazil has dropped 87 percent from February to May this year, Brazilian health officials say. (Brazil 2016)

Brazil shows an 87% reduction in the number of Zika cases notified. https://t.co/L5OocFrT0c pic.twitter.com/ImI5Ve9xTy

— Brasil 2016 (@Brasil2016) June 13, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• How Zika became a global threat (New York Times)
• What would happen if entire countries affected by Zika put off having babies? (Quartz)

Monday, June 13

The big news right now

• British scientists say they’ve developed a model that can predict outbreaks of viruses like Zika by looking at changes in climate (Reuters)
• Puerto Rico has had more than 1,500 cases of Zika, including 182 in pregnant women (AP)

Hype watch

Anheuser-Busch InBev has launched a Zika public awareness campaign in Brazil before the Olympics. The push includes a TV spot and employees distributing 350,000 posters and flyers. Staff have also identified and eliminated more than 3,000 potential breeding grounds of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. (AdAge)

Today’s must-reads

• Get real about minimizing risk of future Zika and Ebola cases (Seattle Times)
• Women and the Zika virus: Smart questions and a few solid answers (Kaiser Health News)

Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12

The big news right now

• French researchers reported a case of sexual transmission of Zika in a couple who were completely asymptomatic (Eurosurveillance)
• Mosquitoes that can transmit Zika have been found to live in nearly all US states (Reuters)

Number of the day: 99 million

99 million units of bug spray were sold in the last year, up 648 percent from last year, according to market research firm IRI. (Yahoo)

On people’s lips

The risk of catching Zika during the game is “almost zero.” — Ricardo Barros, Brazil’s new health minister, who said he wanted to “put at ease the minds of all residents and tourists coming to the games.” (CNN)

Today’s must-reads

• Congressman skimps on Zika funding, then complains about needing more money (Huffington Post)
• Why we can’t say how likely Zika is to leave you temporarily paralyzed (Quartz)
• “Put a helmet on that soldier” and other tips if you’re traveling to a Zika-affected area (NPR)

Friday, June 10

The big news right now

• The CDC is ready to send rapid-response teams to US communities when Zika begins to be transmitted locally there (Washington Post)
• A researcher in the Pittsburgh area working on Zika in a lab experiment was accidentally infected with the virus from a needle stick (USA Today)
  

A WHO clarification

The WHO is scrambling to correct news reports that it advised women in Zika-affected areas to consider delaying pregnancy because of the risks associated with the virus. The confusion arose due to a recent update to the WHO’s guidance on preventing sexual spread of Zika. “We understand that the way it’s phrased, it can be misinterpreted,” William Perea, the WHO official who is coordinating global health guidance on the Zika outbreak, told STAT’s Helen Branswell. (STAT)

Number of the day: 40

A new map shows that the mosquitoes that spread Zika can be found in 40 states and Washington, D.C. (NBC News)

This map shows where mosquitoes that can carry Zika live in the US https://t.co/tJch28eKu1 pic.twitter.com/zsZuh4PgeP

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) June 9, 2016

Zika, meet CRISPR

Researchers have incorporated CRISPR into a diagnostic test that can differentiate between two strains of Zika, reports STAT’s Andrew Joseph. The scientists are now working to convert their demonstration in the lab into a practical Zika diagnostic that can be used around the world. (STAT)

Today’s must-read

• CDC director: Funding delay hurts fight against Zika (AP)

Thursday, June 9

The big news right now

• The Senate agreed to go to a joint House-Senate conference committee to discuss Zika funding (The Hill)
• Jamaica will begin testing all pregnant women for Zika (Jamaica Observer)
• Slovenia has confirmed its first imported case of Zika virus (Reuters)

Staying mum

One group staying silent on Zika: Olympic sponsors. So far, none of the 10 largest sponsors have issued any official statements on the virus. (the Daily Beast)

More mosquitoes

Scientists in California are releasing hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, a strategy which has shown promise in making the insects more resistant to Zika infection.

In the fight against Zika, scientists look to an unlikely ally: mosquitoeshttps://t.co/2jo2tIEZ43

— New York Times Video (@nytvideo) June 8, 2016

Number of the day: 40 million

That’s the number of people a year who travel between the US and Zika-affected areas, according to the CDC. (Wall Street Journal)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika virus forces tough choices on couples seeking fertility treatment (ABC News)
• Lab on wheels tracks Zika spread in Brazil (Voice of America)
• Did deforestation contribute to Zika’s spread? (Smithsonian)

Wednesday, June 8

The big news right now

• A WHO panel will meet next week to consider whether to recommend that the Rio Olympics be postponed or moved because of Zika fears (STAT)
• Steph Curry says Zika had “no bearing” on his decision to skip the Rio Olympics (CBS Sports)
• Concern over Zika has led British Olympian Greg Rutherford to freeze a sample of his sperm before attending the Games (the Guardian)

Scientists split

A survey of 3,000 scientists shows the group is split almost evenly on whether the Olympics should proceed or not. (the Science Advisory Board)

Number of the day: 0

The number of cases of Zika reported so far during Olympic warmups in Rio. (Reuters)

On people’s lips

“I think about all the other moms and dads out there right now who wonder whether it’s safe to go out and go to the grocery store.” — Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz, who’s urging the state’s legislature to hold a special session on Zika (Sun Sentinel)

Today’s must-reads

• Could cancelling the Olympics for Zika do more harm than good? (Forbes)
• Idiot who says Zika is a conspiracy still wants you to buy his bug spray (Gizmodo)

Tuesday, June 7

The big news right now

• A Brazilian research group predicts there will be no more than 15 Zika infections among foreign visitors to the Rio Olympics (Reuters)
• Spain will provide 3,000 bottles of insect repellant to its athletes at the Rio Olympics (AP)
• “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, who is pregnant, said she will skip the Rio Olympics (Hollywood Reporter)

On people’s lips

“I would say to any athlete, to any visitor planning on coming to Rio, you do not have to worry, Rio and Brazil have prepared for this moment.” — Brazil’s sports minister Leonardo Picciani on fears over Zika and the Olympics (Reuters)

Paying for Zika

The world may be alarmed by Zika, but no one wants to pay for it, STAT’s Helen Branswell reports. Part of the problem is that Zika may not be seen as the urgent situation public health leaders believe it to be. (STAT)

ZIKA VIRUS

Days since White House funding request: 119

Funding from Congress: $0

Zika cases in US and territories: 1,732

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) June 6, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• Zika may infect Florida Senate race as money to fight virus lags (Bloomberg)
• The answer to Zika is obvious: Bring back DDT (New York Post)

Monday, June 6

The big news right now

• Scientists have identified a protein that can block Zika from infecting human and mouse brains (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
• As of June 1, New York state had 130 cases of travel-associated Zika, jumping ahead of Florida’s 128 (Kaiser Family Fund)

Struggles beyond birth

For Brazilian babies now nearing a year of age with microcephaly, the condition is still a daily challenge. Doctors test their eyes and ears to gauge the extent of the damage. To correct for stiff limbs, some infants wear special footwear. Regular physical therapy and medical appointments multiple times a week make parenting a full-time job — mother Lacie Santos was fired for the amount of time she missed. (CNN)

Trump weighs in

Donald Trump was asked about Zika and the Olympics on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He said the US should still compete but that “if an athlete wouldn’t want to do it, they should [have the] right not to do it.” (CBS)

Today’s must-read

• The window to effectively deal with Zika is closing (US News & World Report)

Saturday-Sunday, June 4-5

The big news right now

• WHO scientists expand the list of possible Zika-related birth defects (STAT)
• At least 11 US service members have been infected with Zika since January, a new Pentagon health report disclosed (USA Today)
• An expert committee, convened by WHO, will consider whether the Summer Olympics in Brazil should proceed as planned (AP)

Number of the day

In Brazil, authorities have confirmed more than 1,400 cases of Zika-linked microcephaly (Reuters)

On people’s lips

“It’s the Olympics, it’s the Olympics! Mosquitoes? Like, whatever, I’m going. This is my shot. I don’t care about no stupid bugs!” — Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic gymnastics all-around champion, at a meet in Hartford (Associated Press)

Today’s must-reads

• Florida lawmakers press GOP on Zika funding: “Mosquitoes bite Republicans” (Miami Herald)
• Fearing Zika, a top American will skip the Olympics. He may not be the last. (New York Times)

Friday, June 3

The big news right now

• Scientists are raising the possibility that Zika may be transmitted by oral sex (New York Times)
• US cyclist Tejay van Garderen has withdrawn from consideration for the Summer Olympics citing the Zika risk for his pregnant wife (the Guardian)
• 46 countries and territories now have cases of locally transmitted Zika (WHO)

On people’s lips

“I am worried about Zika. … We’re coming to the point where we are going to run out of funds to support the Zika response. And that’s going to happen right as we’re hitting mosquito season in the United States.” — Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy at a meeting with STAT (STAT)

Zika in the US

Here’s a quick recap of Zika cases in the US. (Roll Call)

Zika in the U.S. — data as of June 1: https://t.co/3Z0HbldwvD (map by @RandyLeonard) pic.twitter.com/Exl97sfC8q

— Roll Call (@rollcall) June 2, 2016

Today’s must-read

• The true cost of Zika in the US could be staggering (CBS News)

Thursday, June 2

The big news right now

• States can use Medicaid to pay for Zika virus-fighting tools, the Obama administration says (USA Today)
• Florida Governor Rick Scott says the state, which has 162 cases of Zika, will experience a “disaster” if it doesn’t get federal funds soon to help fight the outbreak (AP)

On people’s lips

“The take-home message is that it is time for us as a nation … to do every single thing possible to bring a halt to Zika infection.” — Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan, who delivered a baby born with microcephaly in a New Jersey hospital earlier this week (LA Times)

Conspiracy theory

Here’s what researchers found when they analyzed Twitter to see when Zika pseudoscientific claims and conspiracy theories spiked (Undark)

Zika conspiracy theory tweets rise just as rapidly as news of the vaccine, says study https://t.co/5Y9ZSC96Eo pic.twitter.com/vUY6TfzqTs

— Aleszu Bajak (@aleszubajak) June 1, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• Scientific sleuths hunt for Zika-carrying mosquitoes (Science)
• The Gates Foundation is trying to stop Zika by giving mosquitos a sexually transmitted disease (Recode)

Wednesday, June 1

The big news right now

• A baby born in New Jersey appears to have Zika-linked microcephaly. If confirmed, it would be the first such case in the continental US (STAT)
• Millions of dollars of Ebola funding, redirected to the Zika response, may not be replenished, lawmakers say (STAT)
• Detroit Tigers player Francisco Rodriguez said he had Zika over the offseason while in his home country of Venezuela (AP)

On people’s lips

“A lot of the money and funds are going to go to the vaccine, but it should go to mosquito control, because at this point, that’s the only way to control the vector of the disease.” — Chalmers Vasquez, head of mosquito control in Florida’s Miami-Dade County (Bloomberg)

Know thy enemy

Scientist-artist David Goodsell, who works at the Scripps Research Institute, is trying to make Zika easier to understand through art. His watercolor shows the virus infecting a cell. (NPR)

Using watercolors, TSRI scientist and artist David Goodsell visualizes a #Zika infection https://t.co/FmzBMvSRU1 pic.twitter.com/EMDye49xpd

— Scripps Research (@scrippsresearch) May 31, 2016

Number of the day: 18

That’s the number of people in Virginia with known Zika infection, according to state health officials. (Washington Post)

Today’s must-reads

• How to stop the Zika virus: Ease restrictions on pesticides (CNBC)
• Malaria, Zika, and dengue could meet their match in mosquito-borne bacteria (Smithsonian Magazine)

Tuesday, May 31

The big news right now

• People returning from Zika-endemic areas should practice safe sex for eight weeks, not four as previously advised, according to new World Health Organization guidelines (Reuters)
• Couples in Brazil considering in vitro fertilization are now required to take a test to show they are Zika-free. The same goes for sperm and egg donors (Mother Jones)
• Chicago Bulls’s Pau Gosol is considering skipping the Olympics due to Zika (ESPN)

On people’s lips

“It’s just a false security to say that you’ll postpone the Olympics and postpone the globalization of this disease.” — David Heymann, head of the WHO panel of independent experts on Zika, on the WHO’s advice to not move or postpone the Summer Games (Reuters)

Fashionably protected

Three mothers are selling a hybrid head scarf and mosquito net, dubbed the Mozzie, which is Australian slang for mosquito. The $20 scarves are intended to protect women’s face, neck, and shoulders from mosquito bites.

#mosquitoes #zika #Olympics2016 #mozzie #dengue pic.twitter.com/q4kCxfwHp9

— MozzieStyle (@MozzieStyle) May 19, 2016

Number of the day: 42,000

That’s the number of hotel room reservations through 2018 that have been cancelled in Puerto Rico due to Zika fears. (AP)

Today’s must-reads

• New York’s Zika fight turns to travel precautions and safe sex (New York Times)
• Zika patients are coming down with a rare and paralyzing disorder. I had it 13 years ago (Narratively)
• Fellow Americans, it’s time to stop panicking about Zika (Mother Jones)

Saturday-Monday, May 28-30

The big news right now

• 150 health experts asked WHO to consider moving or postponing Rio Olympics due to Zika. The WHO responded, saying there is “no public health justification” to delay or postpone the Games (AP)
• Uruguay and Chile are now the only countries in South America to not have local transmission of Zika (Business Insider)

A missed mark

In March, the WHO came up with a six-month, $56 million plan to tackle Zika. So far, only $3.86 million has been raised. (Quartz)

On people’s lips

“Cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus.” — The World Health Organization in its statement that the 2016 Olympics should not be postponed or moved.

Today’s must-reads

• Zika precautions: What you need to know as you plan your summer travel (Washington Post)
• Japan-based researchers have developed a new tool that predicts the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission for 189 countries. (ScienceDaily)

Friday, May 27

The big news right now

• Congress has left for an almost two-week break without passing a Zika funding resolution (Washington Post)
• There are now 46 countries and territories with locally transmitted Zika (WHO)
• Just 1 in 5 people say that they have taken steps in the past three months to protect themselves from getting Zika virus, a new survey finds (Annenberg Public Policy Center)

Hype watch

Extract from the leaves of a common plant could kill Aedes aegypti, according to research done by a teen from the Philippines. The 17-year-old described his results at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. (Science News for Students)

On people’s lips

“We have a narrow window of opportunity to scale up Zika prevention measures, and that window is closing.” — CDC Director Tom Frieden, speaking at The National Press Club on Thursday (Huffington Post)

Number of the day: $62 million

That’s how much Americans have spent on insect repellent this year, up 12 percent from a year ago. (CBS News)

Today’s must-reads

• How businesses should respond to the Zika virus (Fortune)
• Chasing an epidemic: On the road with Brazil’s Zika detectives (Los Angeles Times)
• GOP congressman defends House Zika funding package (NPR)

Thursday, May 26

The big news right now

• When Zika virus infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus has up to a 13 percent chance of developing microcephaly, new research finds (STAT)
• Zika may be linked to previously unreported eye problems in babies with microcephaly (BBC News)
• Miami International Airport is likely to welcome the most travelers from Zika-affected countries this summer, an analysis of the CDC’s Zika travel notices finds. In second and third place, respectively: New York and Houston (Vocativ)

Coming up

A webcast of the Kavli Foundation later today will bring together neuroscientists to discuss Zika’s effects on the brain. Tune in at 3:30 p.m. EDT here.

Mythbusting

The rumor-busting website Snopes has taken aim at Zika. In a new post it investigated conspiracy theories that claim Americans are immune to Zika virus. Its finding? A big, red “false.”

Reality check

Travelers to Brazil are more likely to be sickened by flu or food poisoning than Zika, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. (Vox)

Today’s must-read

• We need to fight Zika the way governments fight terror (Reuters)

Wednesday, May 25

The big news right now

• Thousands may have arrived in the US unaware they were infected with Zika, a top CDC official says (ABC News)
• The FTC on Tuesday fined a maker of mint oil mosquito repellant wristbands, saying that Viatek “took advantage” of consumers’ Zika fears to sell them a product without scientific support (FTC)
• Congress hasn’t passed a Zika emergency funding bill, but it did pass one using Zika as a reason to eliminate certain clean water rules (Huffington Post)

Olympians under the microscope

The US Olympic Committee hopes to enroll 1,000 athletes, coaches, and staff heading to the Rio Olympics or Paralympics for a long-term study of Zika’s effects. Volunteers who test positive for Zika will be monitored for up to two years, and any pregnancies among the group will be studied as well. (Washington Post)

Coloring time

The Alabama Department of Health has posted online a Zika coloring book, which it’s been distributing to kids in the state. Get yours here.

On people’s lips

“Three months is an eternity for control of an outbreak. There is a narrow window of opportunity here and it’s closing. Every day that passes makes it harder to stop Zika.” — CDC Director Tom Frieden on the congressional feud over Zika funding (New York Times)

Today’s must-read

• To scope out Zika, Houston scientists set traps for mosquitoes (Houston Public Media)

Tuesday, May 24

The big news right now

• Brazilian researchers have found Zika in wild-caught Aedes aegypti, strengthening the case the mosquito is the principal vector driving the outbreak (Science)
• A coalition of 11 senators sent a letter to the US Olympic Committee asking how the committee will protect athletes from Zika at the Rio Olympics (USA Today)

Today in odd headlines: Zika freebies

Blood centers in Indiana have seen donations dip since the start of the Zika outbreak, and so to entice donors, the organization is offering a free ticket to the Indy 500 kickoff including a performance by rock band Journey. (IndyStar)

On people’s lips

“The notion is not that there is no need for a vaccine. … What’s not predictable is how to use this vaccine.” — Moncef Slaoui, chairman of GlaxoSmithKline vaccines division (Bloomberg)

Number of the day: 60,000

That’s the number of cans of Off! insect repellent SC Johnson has donated to Puerto Rico’s health department. (New York Times)

Today’s must-reads

• Mosquito hunters set traps across Houston, search for signs of Zika (NPR)
• How Zika spiraled out of control (Scientific American)

Monday, May 23

The big news right now

• The United States could see its first case of local transmission of Zika in the next month or so, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci says (Wall Street Journal)
• Australian biotech Biotron saw its shares jump after it announced making compounds effective against Zika (Business Insider)

Zika is coming

Ronald Klain, the former White House Ebola response coordinator, is not happy with how Congress has handled President Obama’s Zika funding request. In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Klain argues the president should have a public health emergency fund to draw from when epidemics hit, without needing to wait for Congress to act. (Washington Post)

On people’s lips

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, addressed Zika in her remarks at the opening of the World Health Assembly in Geneva today.

#BREAKING Zika crisis fuelled by 'massive' failures on mosquito control: WHO chief

— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 23, 2016

Number of the day: 450,000

That’s the number of condoms the International Olympic Committee will distribute to athletes and staff in Rio. (Metro)

Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22

The big news right now

• The Caribbean island of Martinique has reported its first Zika-related death, of Guillain-Barre syndrome (ABC)
• The first case of Zika-related microcephaly has been reported in Costa Rica (Reuters)
• Puerto Rico has recorded more than 1,100 confirmed cases of Zika (AP)

Skip the skirt

Female Mormon missionaries are now allowed to wear pants (instead of the previously allowed skirts or dresses) in areas affected by mosquito-borne illnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement Friday. The church is also buying mosquito repellant for all 74,000 missionaries. (Salt Lake Tribune)

On people’s lips

“This is not something we can build a wall to prevent. Mosquitoes don’t go through customs.” — President Obama, who said Friday Congress should not leave for recess until it sends him a Zika funding bill (The Hill)

Number of the day: 36

Under the CDC guidelines, Florida’s number of pregnant women with evidence of Zika has quadrupled from 9 to 36. (Miami Herald)

Today’s must-read

• The Zika virus has reached the US. Here’s what we can do to stop the spread (Medium)

Friday, May 20

The big news right now

• The Senate approved its $1.1 billion Zika bill. The Senate and House will now have to reach an agreement on the spending amount before sending it to President Obama (Reuters)
• President Obama will be briefed on the state of the Zika response this morning (STAT)
• The Dominican Republic reported two more deaths from Zika-linked Guillain-Barré syndrome (AP)
• USA Swimming has moved a pre-Olympic training camp from Puerto Rico to Atlanta due to Zika concerns (AP)

On people’s lips

“If you take funding from local health department preparedness, that means people are fired or labs can’t run the same way or disease surveillance has to stop.” — Thomas Inglesby, CEO of the Center for Health Safety at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (NPR)

Number of the day: 279

A newly revised count in US states and territories finds that 279 pregnant women show signs of prior Zika infection. This is higher than previous estimates as it includes women who have laboratory evidence of possible infection, whether or not they recall having symptoms. (CDC)

Today’s must-reads

• How the media fell for an “anti-Zika” condom stunt (The Verge)
• 5 lessons from the protracted Zika funding fight (STAT)

Thursday, May 19

The big news right now

• A bitterly divided House passed its $622 million Zika bill. Next up: a fight with White House, and maybe the Senate, too (STAT)
• CDC Director Tom Frieden says the House’s Zika funding bill is inadequate (AP)
• The Gates Foundation is giving $750,000 to a collaborative effort by PAHO and the CDC to better communicate the risks of Zika (PAHO, Gates Foundation)
• A new project from IBM uses computers’ and phones’ downtime to virtually test out potential Zika drugs (CNBC)

Today in odd headlines: Zika and truckers

Bundled with Zika funding bills in the House and Senate are provisions that lengthen the number of hours truck drivers are allowed to be on the road. That has some safety advocates concerned. (Huffington Post)

Fact check

Usain Bolt drew some ire for his joke that he’s not afraid of Zika because the mosquitoes “can’t catch me.” But he’s right: At 28 miles per hour, he’s way faster than the 1.5 mph a mosquito can fly. (Complex)

On people’s lips

“The babies being born are neither Democrats or Republicans. They’re babies.” — Former Ebola czar Ron Klain, saying Zika funding shouldn’t be a political battle (Politico)

Today’s must-reads

• Brazil’s abortion restrictions compound challenge of Zika virus (New York Times)
• How many Zika-infected infants will develop microcephaly and other FAQs (PBS NewsHour)

Wednesday, May 18

The big news right now

• Zika virus may spread to Europe in the coming months, WHO warns (Reuters)
• The Senate advanced a compromise bill to provide $1.1 billion in federal funds to fight Zika (STAT)
• The House could vote on a Zika funding bill as soon as today, though a vote could be delayed until later in the week (STAT)

Vaccine update

In an interview with Mother Jones, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gave more details about that agency’s progress toward a Zika vaccine. Currently in development, aiming for clinical trials in September, is a vaccine based on DNA. On track for trials perhaps at the end of this year is a different type made of inactivated virus. Another variety, a “live chimeric inactivated vaccine,” is behind that with a 2017 test date. All told, they have “four or five candidates lined up,” Fauci said.

Number of the day: 94%

Researchers estimate that was the percentage of the population of French Polynesia infected with Zika during a 2013 outbreak. As a result, it will take 12 to 20 years before we will see another outbreak there. (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)

Today’s must-reads

• GOP repurposes EPA pesticide bill for Zika (The Hill)
• Florida town buzzing over biotech mosquito for Zika defense (WSJ)

Tuesday, May 17

The big news right now

• The House’s Zika funding bill would provide $622 million, less than half of what the Obama administration wanted (STAT)
• Meanwhile, the Senate is slated to vote today on three competing plans to battle Zika (AP)
• US scientists have cloned Zika, an important step toward getting a vaccine (BBC News)

Zika is not Ebola

Zika is “not at fever pitch the way it was with Ebola,” Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina told STAT’s David Nather. He’s not alone. Many key Republicans say they’re just not hearing a lot of urgency about Zika from their constituents. And that could make a big difference later this week, when the House is likely to vote on its own, smaller Zika bill. (STAT)

Number of the day: $1.76 million

The Defense Department is providing $1.76 million in extra funding to military laboratories to expand Zika surveillance worldwide. (DoD)

Today’s must-reads

• Is this early-stage vaccine our best hope against Zika? (Mother Jones)
• US Zika tests “unacceptably” backlogged (BuzzFeed)
• Tracing Zika back to patient zero (The Atlantic)

Monday, May 16

The big news right now

• The House is likely to weigh in on Zika funding today. Expect far less than the $1.1 billion the Senate agreed to (STAT)
• The USDA is using student volunteers to track the mosquitoes that spread Zika (AP)
• IBM scientists have designed a macromolecule that could help stop viruses like Zika from spreading (Medical Daily)

On people’s lips

“I don’t know anyone who’s got the Zika virus and I know a lot of people so this is not a big issue.” — Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio de Janeiro, dismissing calls for the Olympics to be cancelled or postponed (Sky News)

Number of the day: 3 weeks

That’s how long the delay is for Zika testing in Rio de Janeiro, according to an Australian scientist. With throngs of visitors soon arriving for the Olympics, the test backlog may get much worse. (AAP)

Today’s must-reads

• Zika’s emotional and financial burden has fallen squarely on women’s shoulders (Quartz)
• Southerners brace for mosquito season with fears of Zika (NPR)

Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15

The big news right now

• Puerto Rico reported its first case of Zika-linked microcephaly (STAT)
• US states and territories can now apply to the CDC for funds to fight Zika. The Department of Health and Human Services has redirected $85 million to support the efforts (CDC)
• The House will attempt to pass emergency Zika funds next week. How much money to spend hasn’t been settled yet (Reuters)

Hype watch

Comedian Amy Schumer took to Twitter to set the record straight that she did not ask studio executives to move locations for her upcoming film from Puerto Rico due to Zika concerns. (ET Canada)

@primerahora who is your source? that is completely untrue. I would have been glad to film there and I planned on it.

— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) May 13, 2016

Number of the day: 2x

That’s the strength of the free “dual protection” condoms Australian athletes will receive at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio to combat the spread of the Zika virus. (Australia’s Sunday Telegraph)

Today’s must-read

• Yes, Zika will soon spread in the United States. But it won’t be a disaster (Science)
• The US doesn’t have an emergency fund for health crises like Zika. That’s a huge mistake (Vox)

Friday, May 13

The big news right now

• The Senate reached a $1.1 billion bipartisan deal to fight Zika. The package will be voted on next week (Washington Post)
• Grenada has been added to the CDC’s Zika travel caution for pregnant women (CDC)
• Singapore reported its first case of imported Zika (Channel News Asia)

Hype watch

Is the US Army testing Zika samples in its labs in South Korea? The military says no, but 50 local South Korean civic groups aren’t convinced, protesting in front of the US Forces Korea’s base in Yongsan. (Korea Herald)

No delays

The WHO released guidelines for athletes and visitors planning to attend the Summer Games in Rio, making it clear the Olympics would not be delayed or postponed. (New York Times)

Athletes and visitors to Rio de Janeiro, and other areas where #ZikaVirus is circulating, are being encouraged to: pic.twitter.com/YGq9jlSwgG

— WHO (@WHO) May 12, 2016

Number of the day: 55%

That’s the percentage of of people who said they’d be “very” or “somewhat” likely to get a Zika vaccine if it were available, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center survey. (APPC)

Today’s must-read

• Playing Russian roulette with the Zika virus in Rio (AP)

Thursday, May 12

The big news right now

• The International Olympic Committee says it sees no need to cancel, delay, or move the Rio Olympic Games because of Zika (BBC News)
• Three groups of scientists reported Wednesday that fetal mice infected with Zika showed brain damage, confirming links to microcephaly (STAT)
• Senate Republicans are close to approving at least $1.1 billion to combat Zika (Bloomberg)

Number of the day: $4.95 million

Canada is contributing almost $5 million for research into Zika and humanitarian aid to countries hit hard by the virus. (Globe and Mail)

Hype watch

Televangelist Jim Bakker is using the Zika threat as a marketing push to sell survival food buckets. Bulk supplies of rice and potatoes, he indicates, are important supplies in preparation for the End Times. (Right Wing Watch)

Today’s must-reads

• When Zika hits, a push for birth control and abortion? (AP)
• Public health professor: Because of Zika, Rio Olympics “must not proceed” (NPR)

Wednesday, May 11

The big news right now

• US health officials say a urine test for Zika is more effective than a blood test (AP)
• Florida has had 109 Zika cases this year, more than any other state (Miami Herald)

Masked mosquito

Adam Beam, Kentucky statehouse reporter for the Associated Press, captured this scene at an educational session on Zika.

Your state tax dollars at work, promoting awareness of the Zika virus pic.twitter.com/LkaGhNxbnm

— Adam Beam (@adambeam) May 9, 2016

On people’s lips

Cher tweeted some very head-scratching comments about Zika last night, but kudos to her for at least getting the geography right: Zika is not yet in the Bahamas.

FEEL SO BAD..MOM SAID
POKE ,WHERE WIL U GO.I SAID BAHAMAS She went Silent.. Then Said "What about Zika Virus,Honey?Said "Mom it's not There

— Cher (@cher) May 11, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• This is what it’s like to actually be told you have Zika (BuzzFeed)
• Fighting Zika is about protecting pregnant women, Fauci says (NPR)
• For Republicans in Congress, does “pro-life” extend to fighting Zika? (Washington Post)

Tuesday, May 10

The big news right now

• Honduras “strongly suspects” its first case of Zika-related microcephaly in an unborn fetus (Reuters)
• The White House says it’s concerned the debt crisis facing Puerto Rico could hamper its ability to respond to Zika (Reuters)
• Washington, D.C., plans to hand out condoms to stop the spread of Zika (Washington City Paper)

Job alert

UNICEF is hiring a consultant to manage its Zika-related innovation projects. Points if you have a master’s in engineering, innovation, or microbiology. (UNICEF)

On people’s lips

Comedian David Spade joked about getting Zika on a recent flight. (Not to worry: You can’t actually catch Zika from a sneeze.)

This woman on the plane sneezed 70 times ? wtf do i do? Other than learn to adapt to having Zika. wheres the air marshall

— David Spade (@DavidSpade) May 9, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• A window into the workings of Zika (New York Times)
• Olympians battle mosquito infestations in Rio as US develops new Zika test (People)

Monday, May 9

The big news right now

• The Senate heads back to the Hill today with Zika funding looming (STAT)
• Zika may cause microcephaly by making the fetus’s brain attack itself, new research finds (Newsweek)

Hype watch

A British tabloid is claiming Kate Middleton will skip the Rio Olympics due to concerns over Zika. (Daily Star)

The more you know

A new video from PHD Comics explains the science of Zika in cartoon form:

On people’s lips

“Simply put, Zika infection is more dangerous, and Brazil’s outbreak more extensive, than scientists reckoned a short time ago. Which leads to a bitter truth: the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games must be postponed, moved, or both.” — University of Ottawa professor Amir Attaran (Harvard Public Health Review)

Today’s must-read

• Mosquito season brings no urgency for money to fight Zika (AP)

Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8

The big news right now

• The MLB is moving a two-game series in Puerto Rico to Miami due to Zika concerns (STAT)
• Researchers have developed an inexpensive, paper-based test that can detect Zika in just a few hours (Harvard Gazette)
• The UN established a trust fund to help combat Zika (AP)

Number of the day: 35%

Just 1 in 3 Americans says protecting against mosquito bites is a step that scientists think people can take to avoid Zika’s negative health effects, a new survey out of the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds. (APPC)

On people’s lips

“If I’m pregnant and I’m trying to figure out whether my baby is in danger or not, it makes a huge difference whether it’s Zika or dengue. Because dengue doesn’t cause microcephaly.” — Immunologist Ilhem Messaoudi, on the ambiguity in Zika tests (McClatchy)

Today’s must-reads

• Brazil scientists seek to unravel mystery of Zika twins (Reuters)
• How the Zika virus is affecting the Olympics, MLB (Sports Illustrated)
• What Zika means for Americans (FactCheck.org)

Friday, May 6

The big news right now

• Spain reported its first case of Zika-related microcephaly in an unborn fetus (Reuters)
• Peru is the latest destination to be added to the CDC’s Zika travel caution for pregnant women (CDC)
• The Cayman Islands plan to use genetically modified mosquitoes to fight Zika (AP)
• A small study in Brazil found nearly 90 percent of people with Guillain-Barré syndrome reported prior symptoms of Zika (AP)

Number of the day: 200 percent

A large DEET manufacturer says it expects production this year to be 200 to 300 percent more than what it was last year. (Indianapolis Business Journal)

On people’s lips

“I don’t even know what a Zika virus is. But I’ll tell you what, it scares me when I hear about it.” — NBA player Carmelo Anthony on whether Zika will factor into his decision to attend the Rio Olympics (Bleacher Report)

Today’s must-reads

• Gulf Coast could be ground zero for Zika (USA Today)
• One year into the Zika outbreak: how an obscure disease became a global health emergency (WHO)

Thursday, May 5

The big news right now

• Infecting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with a strain of bacteria known as Wolbachia makes them less likely to transmit Zika (Reuters)
• Florida Governor Rick Scott will visit Capitol Hill next week to push for emergency funds to fight Zika (Miami Herald)
• Australian golfer Adam Scott will skip the Rio Olympics due to Zika concerns (Sydney Morning Herald)
• The makers of a fertility app are donating 1 million free subscriptions to women in Brazil who want to minimize likelihood of conception (SBS)

On people’s lips

“We don’t know the future course of the epidemic of Zika, but we have to be prepared for the virus to be present for years.” — José Esparza of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (National Geographic)

Number of the day: 4

That’s the number of microcephaly cases linked to the Zika virus that have been confirmed in Panama. Panama was the first country outside of Brazil to report such cases in the current Zika outbreak (Reuters)

Today’s must-read

• Heartbreak and hardship for women in Brazil as Zika crisis casts deep shadow (The Guardian)

Wednesday, May 4

The big news right now

• A Connecticut woman who traveled to Central America and became pregnant while there has tested positive for Zika (Hartford Courant)
• The MLB is considering canceling its series in Puerto Rico due to concerns over Zika (Yahoo! Sports)
• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease plans to start tests of a Zika vaccine in September (Science)

Number of the day: 500 million

The number of people in the Americas and Caribbean at risk of contracting Zika, according to the Pan American Health Organization. (Science)

Zika watch

STAT reporter Dylan Scott noticed this Zika warning sign at Logan Airport in Boston. Airports across the country are posting similar displays, alerting travelers about the virus and ways to protect themselves. (USA Today)

Now at the airport: #Zika! pic.twitter.com/VFrzcaDYgv

— Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) May 3, 2016

On people’s lips

“Aedes aegypti is a very difficult mosquito to control and eliminate. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to have a significant impact on it — but it will require a very aggressive, concerted effort.” — Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID (ABC News)

Today’s must-reads

• Malaria during pregnancy is a lot more dangerous than Zika (Quartz)
• The high schooler behind the mini-brain generator (Slate)

Tuesday, May 3

The big news right now

• A three-day conference in Atlanta wraps up today, having convened academics and drug makers from across the globe to discuss Zika (Bridging the Sciences)
• Could an already existing drug help treat Zika? Scientists are investigating whether older drugs might block Zika infection (USA Today)
• A new Baltimore-based drug developer launched in December specifically to design a Zika vaccine (Baltimore Sun)

Number of the day: 700,000

The number of Venezuelans a watchdog group estimates have been infected with Zika, 150 times as many as the official government tally. (Americas Quarterly)

Today in odd headlines: Clamor for coveralls

Red Wing, which makes pesticide-treated coveralls for oil and gas employees in malaria-endemic regions, is now marketing them to companies operating in South America as well. (My San Antonio)

Today’s must-reads

• A more worrisome Zika vector for the US? (Undark)
• Controlling Zika mosquitoes may be ‘lost cause’ (USA Today)
• Should the US reconsider its stand on foreign aid for abortion clinics? (NPR)

Monday, May 2

The big news right now

• Zika could be behind more damaging neurological conditions, affecting 1 in 5 babies of women who contract the virus during pregnancy (BBC News)
• Rio de Janeiro has had three times more Zika cases than any other state in Brazil (Vice News)
• New York City is donating 1 million condoms to Puerto Rico to protect against sexual transmission of Zika (NY Daily News)

On people’s lips

“The microcephaly and other birth defects we have been seeing could be the tip of the iceberg.” — the CDC’s Dr. Sonja Rasmussen at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ annual meeting (NBC News)

Gauging resistance

A recent study examined insecticide resistance in Aedes albopictus, a species that may carry Zika, though less commonly than Aedes aegypti.

Without a vaccine, is #mosquito control the most effective way of reducing #Zika transmission? https://t.co/l5yNJDGgaU @GHWindow

— BioMed Central (@BioMedCentral) May 2, 2016

Today’s must-reads

• Brazil: In the age of Zika, syphilis advances (H5N1 blog)
• Bug spray maker tripling production for Zika (Fox 54)

Saturday-Sunday, April 30-May 1

The big news right now

• The US reported its first Zika-related death, a man in his 70s in Puerto Rico (STAT)
• Papua New Guinea is the latest destination to be added to the CDC’s travel caution for pregnant women (CDC)

On people’s lips

“We need to do everything we can to fight Zika — but we can’t do that without adequate resources.” — Hillary Clinton in a post on the question-and-answer website Quora, continuing to urge Congress to approve emergency Zika funding (Quora)

Number of the day: $250,000

Maryland will spend $250,000 on Zika prevention efforts. “Our state is taking every precaution when it comes to Zika,” Governor Larry Hogan said. (NBC4 Washington)

Today’s must-reads

• Why Zika needed an ounce of prevention (The Atlantic)
• To fight Zika, let’s genetically modify mosquitoes — the old-fashioned way (The Conversation)
• Simple Zika advice for women, from a top CDC official (Vox)

For more Zika in 30 Seconds archives click here.