WHO: Zika No Longer a World Health Emergency (usatoday.com) 54
The mosquito-borne Zika virus that causes microcephaly and other birth defects is no longer a world health emergency, according to the World Health Organization. It is a virus that requires a long-term approach. USA Today reports: By downgrading the emergency status for Zika, the organization will now shift to a longer-term approach for fighting the virus that has spread across Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. Zika was also found in parts of the Miami area. The virus "is not going away," WHO said on Twitter. "Countries need to be prepared and strengthen detection and prevention, as well as care and support for people." Nearly 30 countries have reported birth defects linked to the virus. WHO, which designated the health emergency in February, says more than 2,100 cases of nervous-system malformations have been reported in Brazil alone. The virus continues to spread geographically to areas where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are established, the organization noted. Most people who are infected by the virus do not get sick, but can suffer fever, rash and joint pain. The virus, however, can cause birth defects, including microcephaly, in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development.
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Uh.. The World Health Organization?
The world has a whole bunch of ongoing disasters, so it sounds like they're simply reclassing Zika as one of those.
It's probably worth noting that Zika is still spreading actively in Florida, at present the CDC is recommending against pregnant women avoid traveling to Miami-Dade if they can, although the red zone (area of high intensity transmissions) is considerably smaller.
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Zika or not, that's just sound advice.
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I used to go to FL on business for many years, although not that often to Miami. I'll tell you one reason that's worth a visit: the Cuban sandwiches.
I've had them outside of South Florida, but it's usually a shadow of the real thing; like comparing pizzas from a national chain to pizzas from a wood-fired NYC neighborhood pizzeria.
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You make an important point. Cuban sandwiches are terrific. Now that we can go to Cuba for a Cuban sandwiches, there's no need to take the risk of setting foot anywhere in the state of Florida.
By the way, there's a truck here in Houston a short bike ride from my house that serves a Cuban sandwich every bit as good as the ones I've had in South Florida. I'm sitting here salivating just thinking about one of those sandwiches. Best lunch
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NYC...Pizzeria
NYC...Pizzeria
NYC...Pizzeria
Nope, not seeing the connection between those two words.
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Then you've been to Keste's, Patsy's, or Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh yes, I have studied this topic seriously. I have notebooks.
It's not that you can't get good wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza outside NYC, it's just that in NYC it's commonplace and in most other cities that style is rare or non-existent. Most pizza in the US is actually Greek-style pizza (baked in a pan), which produces a bread-like crust, uses American style mozzarella (made with cow's milk instead of buffalo milk, so tech
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I'm from Chicago. It's hard to find pizza that impresses me.
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I like all kinds of pizza. I'm not one of those people who says it has to be done just one way. The pizza I grew up with as a city kid was thick sheet pizza sold by the square, which as a kid you could afford. It's still one of my favorites if you can find a place that does it well, which isn't easy.
As for NYC pizza -- Neapolitan is the default style, and competition has created very good examples of that style. It's a bit like getting a cheese steak in Philly. There's nothing particularly rocket-sciency
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The only Chicago style pizza we have up here in New England is the Uno chain, which I refuse to visit because I don't want a chain to be my first experience of the style.
Good decision, because Uno pizza is absolutely horrible.
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Yeah, don't to Uno. Chicagoans don't go to Uno.
You let me know when you're going to Chicago, and I'll hook you up with a neighborhood spot that'll take good care of you. Plus, while you're there you can get the low-down on point spreads and get a slightly-illegal bet down on a race at Arlington.
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Pretty much.
it has gone from
Epidemic
to
Endemic
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It's all relative.
Zika is still extremely dangerous but now there's something even worse to worry about for anyone living in a climate south of new york.
Re:Opposite Day for Headlines? (Score:4, Interesting)
Yeah, the interview I heard with a WHO guy he was emphasizing that this is not so much a "downgrade" as a change in status. The emergency has emerged, not gone away.
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That is, the influx of a bunch of people from all over the world added to the danger of a serious epidemic.
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Well, It's the World Health Organization not the Upper Latitudes Health Organization, so....
Question: (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Yes.
People with symptomatic illness have transmitted Zika before they had symptoms, while they had symptoms, and after symptoms resolved.
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-pro... [cdc.gov]
The mutations are what you should fear. (Score:2)
Zika already mutated to become an STD but it could easily mutate to become more infectious and be less noticeable by the host. My fear is that it will become even more prevalent as HPV but will go completely unnoticed until several women in the next generation start having children with defects. This scenario would be devastating for all mankind.
I'm less afraid of Zika (Score:3)
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Sorry, but you asked for this one: if you're afraid of numbskulls, Zika should scare you very badly indeed.
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I thought that "STDs" are diseases whose main method of transmission is through sexual routes, which has never been the case for Zika. By your criterion, Ebola is also an STD because cases have been reported of it's sexual transmission months after the infection source had
Orly? (Score:2)
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I think the potential victims of such a line of inquiry have a pretty solid handle on the media and have shut that story down hard.
If it really was a story, stay tuned, the news will come out in 11 years or so...
Downgraded threat (Score:2)
Zika is mainly spread by mosquito isn't it?
I am sure the blizzard we had yesterday took out all the remaining mosquitos around here.
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The WHO considers this to be the case, yes. However, Zika is an STD as well, but the WHO considers that a lowered risk - after all, everyone practices safe sex, uses condoms, and abstinence, right?
Less misleading headline: Zika - the new Malaria (Score:2)
It's incredible how misleading this headline is. Technical terminology confuses the lay public once again.