Zika and adult brain damage

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by Cottontop

There are serious scientists arguing for the complete eradication of mosquitos, using genetic methods. Apparently the thinking is that mosquitos do not fill some essential role in the environment, but who knows.

To paraphrase a bit of a trite saying -"First they came for the mosquitos but I wasn't one so I did not speak up. Then they came for the bats. Then for the rats. Then..."

One of these days we humans will realize that often, if not always, in the long run, the most humane thing to do is to let nature take its course. That way we don't end up with 5-10% of the completely healthy population taking care of the rest of 90-95%.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Ok, why is CDC in a panic? As of this past Monday, confirmed adults can not only get the virus, but can pass it on, and not just via sex. It also appears to basically cause a form of dementia in about 25% of the adult cases that have been actually studied via autopsies. Its now established in Miami and spreading fast, very fast. The brain basically rots via abscesses, big ones, and does this quickly and painfully. So not good at all.

Brain damage in 25% of adult cases. Now that's startling and extremely worrying. Thank you for sharing this awful news. And yes you are right. The CDC is in panic mode.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

To paraphrase a bit of a trite saying -"First they came for the mosquitos but I wasn't one so I did not speak up. Then they came for the bats. Then for the rats. Then..."

One of these days we humans will realize that often, if not always, in the long run, the most humane thing to do is to let nature take its course. That way we don't end up with 5-10% of the completely healthy population taking care of the rest of 90-95%.

Eugenics through nature. Interesting. Don't you realize that if a countries population becomes infected how many "dependants" will be created? Brain damaged adults who have had the ability to work taken from them. Whole schools full of sub par children with IQ's bellow 20. I don't want to even think of the social implications. It is too frightening.

[Thorne]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

I hate hearing about Zika invading Florida.
It saddens me to no end.

But not why you might think.

Information is a weapon, it can make you rich or break you.

Fact is Zika, has been around for "YEARS", So has all the above mentioned diseases, parasites, grunge and the like.

Florida news is FULL of almost nothing but "FEAR ZIKA", we FOUND 5 cases, ( and if you dig deeper ) at least we "Think" we found 5 cases.

Do you know how many people live in Florida?

This "Outbreak" is so small a percentage of the population you couldn't fit that many zeros on a line.

Remember Killer bees... Yes, they are real, they kill far more people than even.... uh,,,, sharks or Even COWS.

My question is who owns the cure and what politician is getting paid off for this one. Remember Swine flu, Anthrax, and on and on.

Somebody is going to make millions.

In the mean time I use prudent measures to prevent mosquitos from biting me, but not because of the latest "fear porn" fad. But, because there really are diseases that can hurt you, that are spread by those things

After all that is why, "Literally" why, Air Conditioning was invented.
( think malaria )
That and you could sell Ice at the time for a lot of money.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by JPD

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME is confirmed in adults and that's pretty serious.

This is from the CDC website.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.

Several countries that have experienced Zika outbreaks recently have reported increases in people who have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika;

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

Brain damage in 25% of adult cases. Now that's startling and extremely worrying. Thank you for sharing this awful news. And yes you are right. The CDC is in panic mode.

No, 25% of those who died, had zika, and were autopsied. Not clear yet that translates into any specific % for the total population. Autopsies usually are reserved for those who died unattended under "suspicious" circumstances in Brazil. What is surprising is how fast it is spreading. What is worrying is that we know hardly anything about it. Apparently it is not only spread by mosquitos but also from human contact.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by Thorne

I hate hearing about Zika invading Florida.
It saddens me to no end.

But not why you might think.

Information is a weapon, it can make you rich or break you.

Fact is Zika, has been around for "YEARS", So has all the above mentioned diseases, parasites, grunge and the like.

Florida news is FULL of almost nothing but "FEAR ZIKA", we FOUND 5 cases, ( and if you dig deeper ) at least we "Think" we found 5 cases.

Do you know how many people live in Florida?

This "Outbreak" is so small a percentage of the population you couldn't fit that many zeros on a line.

Remember Killer bees... Yes, they are real, they kill far more people than even.... uh,,,, sharks or Even COWS.

My question is who owns the cure and what politician is getting paid off for this one. Remember Swine flu, Anthrax, and on and on.

Somebody is going to make millions.

In the mean time I use prudent measures to prevent mosquitos from biting me, but not because of the latest "fear porn" fad. But, because there really are diseases that can hurt you, that are spread by those things

After all that is why, "Literally" why, Air Conditioning was invented.
( think malaria )
That and you could sell Ice at the time for a lot of money.

No, a/c was not invented for malaria, it was invented for commercial use like movie theatres. Hot summers folks would go into air conditioned buildings. Which is what made the movie industry take off.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Pardon my blunt words, but I'm trying to make a earnest genuine effort to communicate.

Read my post re Zika, particularly re risk of infection * risk of specific consequence. Few diseases carry no risk of death and severe injury, but we logically quantify risk by determining the exposure needed to become infected, and risk of the specific consequence.

Your replies basically ignores the probability, and fixate on the worst outcome.

My father was a healthy man until 90, when he got bitten by a tick and four years later he was dead. Lyme's disease is difficult because it requires treatment, but is often missed during diagnosis.

Zika is endemic and has infected entire continents, it isn't a new disease, and with all diseases that involve the CNS, yes it can cause brain damage. But the odds are extremely low amongst those infected.

Like I've said before, avoid unnecessary mosquito bites, and if unfortunately you get an infection, most recover without ill effect and suffer a little bit of fatigue. Current research shows you'll be immune for life.

Guess you know way more than CDC does. Might share your wisdom with them.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

This is from the CDC website.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis.

Several countries that have experienced Zika outbreaks recently have reported increases in people who have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Current CDC research suggests that GBS is strongly associated with Zika;

Yes...and just to add to that, paralysis of the diaphragm, critical in breathing, is not uncommon.

[vmattiola]

PLOT TWIST - I live and work in St. Martin. Me and a dozen other co-workers get annihilated by mosquitos here in Anse Marcel daily. A bunch of us were unlucky enough to contract Zika. Good news. We're all still alive! And as far as I can tell, it's only the Carib, Presidente, and passionfruit rum that's causing the brain damage.

Another plot twist. I have a degree in molecular neuroscience, and know the hippocampus very well from a half decade of research. That smattering of adult progenitor cells in the subgranular region are basically designed to wait until damage occurs, then step in to fill the role before any major disruption of connectivity occurs. The best part about that, they come back! Progenitors are a dime a dozen (from my understanding). So, while the research out of La Jolla is certainly fascinating (what hippocampal neurobiology isnt!?!?!), I wouldn't freak out too much if I was the general public.

If anything, I'll be the one enjoying the discounted charter rates and deals while the rest of y'all cover in fear in the American bubble over Zika....or Ebola....or Bird Flu....or whatever else you want to be afraid of this month.

[Viking Sailor]

A little light reading:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0818131134.htm

[SV DestinyAscen]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Guess you know way more than CDC does. Might share your wisdom with them.

I'm not interested in trading sarcastic insults or hysteria.

But this is the fact - from the CDC's perspective zika virus presents a public health problem primarily because of its transmission vector makes large amount of people who are unable to protect themselves (less privileged able to avoid mosquito due to lack of air conditioning) are also the folks most critically lacking prenatal care. The unfortunate effects it has on the unborn also means it has the potential to create a generation of children who'll need long-term care.

GBS has been potentially linked to zika, but you have to recognize that as a syndrome, it is defined symptomatically, and theorized to be the result of immune response. It occurs in a variety of viral infections that impact neurons, from herpes, to particular swine flu outbreaks. It is a scary unknown to folks who have never heard of it before, but from a public health POV, you have to evaluate incidence vs. # of persons infected with zika.

I'm not some idiot pretending zika is a liberal conspiracy to get more money - I'm married to a pathologist and participated in my locality's dept of health contingency plan for zika back in December/January before most Americans have even heard of it.

Millions of people have been infected by zika, thousands of children have been born with long-term disabilities, most likely more have lost pregnancies due to the infection. But again - the risk, once individualized to a health adult with no procreation plans, means that I won't go out of my way to get bitten by a mosquito, OTOH, if I acquire zika (if I hadn't already), it will most likely be a general fatigue like the many unnamed viruses we get each year.

If I may offer a thought process re the difference between public health concern vs. personal health risk assessment: herpes, drug resistant gonorrhea, HIV are public health concerns - they affect millions globally, injure many, and are difficult to treat - but because of the known transmission vectors, they're not a personal risk to me.

Zika in many ways, is more like the flu. The flu, the basically infinite number of strains it can develop each season, is a public health concern. But after getting my vaccine shot, it is of limited personal health concern because of the high # of infections each year + relatively low % of complications resulting in death (despite high overall #) = my individualized risk for serious complication is low (provided I remain well nourished and hydrated).

[Thorne]

Originally Posted by reed1v

No, a/c was not invented for malaria, it was invented for commercial use like movie theatres. Hot summers folks would go into air conditioned buildings. Which is what made the movie industry take off.

No, actually I frequent Apalachicola where it was invented. ( it is on the gulf coast, after all ) and they have the home there of the Inventor.

You should go check it out.

I was quoting their brochure as they are quite proud of that little accomplishment.

You should check your facts a tad bit closer, I think the Chinese claimed the actual invention of a device that used a heat exchanger. but......

It was invented because everyone thought swamp gas caused malaria and keeping the patient cool seemed to help.

Now I admit I wasn't there, and I am just taking the word of the folks who are the people who say they know for sure, but, really it could have been popcorn sales that drove the invention.



P.S. it was invented by a doctor who treated malaria.

Ok, I couldn't resist.....

P.S.P.S.
a Florida physician named John Gorrie developed a machine to keep yellow fever patients cool. Gorrie's machine used compressed air and water to create an open cooling system. Patented in 1851, Gorrie's "cold air machine" was the first patented invention that facilitated mechanical refrigeration, as well as the first to resemble a modern air conditioner.

P.S.P.S.P.S

The first theater in the world exclusively devoted to showing motion pictures was the Nickelodeon, which was opened on

June 19, 1905

in Pittsburgh, Penn.

[Three Sisters]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

It is now being reported that researchers have found that the Zika virus may now cause brain damage in adults.

Medical Xpress: Zika infection may affect adult brain cells

If true, and there is no reason to say that it's not, what impact will this have on cruisers?

Could we see places like the Caribbean have a serious drop off in recreational sailing as the fear of Zika moves beyond just childbearing age women?

What impact going forward could this have on the charter businesses? Also let's not forget the overall impact on these Island nations economies.

Personally, I don't think people are thinking seriously about the effect this mosquito born virus could end up having on sailboating. The empty seats at the Rio Olympics could just be a fortaste of the impact on other elective lifestyle choices.

I would think the first to be affected would be the charters. And if the charter companies get hurt the flow on effect throughout the sailboat related industry could be serious.

Now that Zika has now spread to Miami tourist areas such as South Beach, if I owned a tourist related business I would be selling now. Miami is a good example of how this little virus can cause an economic crash locally.

I would really like to hear others thoughts on this. Am I being too negative? Is it something that will have no impact commercially?

Thanks,
Chaya

I don't think you are being "too negative", just aware of the potential danger.

From what I understand it is the mutations that the disease has developed that presents the current danger.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

(...)

In the meantime until given the all clear I would myself will take all precautions so as to stay away from Zika. Let those that think it is a joke continue to laugh.

(...)

Then this for you means the end of tropical vacations in any foreseeable future. For Dengue, Chikungunya and now Zika are all well established.

Not a joke.

We have been thru Chikungunya back in 2013/14. You do not want to hear our story, but basically we never fully recovered. I also have a friend who nearly died from Dengue.

b.