Puerto Ricans Shrug Off Concerns As Zika Ravages Island

For many residents, Zika is just the latest virus to hit the island -- and it doesn't seem as scary as some that have come before it. But for researchers trying to contain it, it's terrifying. "This is something you would imagine if you were writing science fiction -- but it's the reality," says Brenda Rivera Garcia, the state epidemiologist for Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is in the midst of one of the worst Zika outbreaks of any region in the northern hemisphere. The island has been reporting roughly 1,500 new cases of Zika each week. Hundreds of pregnant women are already infected, and public health officials say the outbreak in Puerto Rico probably won't start to subside until September or October. Yet health officials also say efforts to stop the spread of the virus are being hampered by mistrust, indifference and fatigue among residents, over what some view as just the latest tropical disease to hit the island. (Beaubien, 8/10)

In other Zika news —

Preparing for the possibility of local transmission, Public Health in Georgia has contracted with a private mosquito control company. The agency is also planning to release a 50-page response plan for health officials in districts around the state. And it’s prepared to set up a call center in case of an emergency.The most important message, Drenzek said, is to protect pregnant women, who should be “well aware where Zika transmission is ongoing.” (Miller, 8/10)

Northern Kentucky Public Health officials said Wednesday that privacy concerns prevented them from notifying the city of Alexandria about insecticide spraying around the home of a resident who picked up the Zika virus while traveling. “The spraying is done in such a concentrated area, a matter of blocks, around the affected person, that to identify the neighborhood would likely be a violation” of the federal patient privacy law, said Emily Gresham Wherle, spokeswoman for the public health department. (Mayhew and Saker, 8/10)

It’s been a little over a week since it was confirmed that the Zika virus has spread locally in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. In the heart of that neighborhood is The Wynwood Yard—an all-outdoor food and culture venue. Within hours of the Zika announcement, Della Heiman—founder of the Wynwood Yard and owner of Della Test Kitchen—temporarily closed the space. She decided not to charge rent to the six other businesses at the Yard for the week they’ve been closed. (Mack, 8/10)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

�鶹Ů��

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics