USA Today: Military discloses at least 11 troops infected with Zika virus this year
At least 11 U.S. troops have been infected with the Zika virus since January, nearly all of whom traveled to countries where the mosquito-born illness is prevalent, a Pentagon health report published Friday disclosed.
In addition, four dependents of servicemembers — which can include spouses and children — and two military retirees contracted the illness, according to the report. It underscored the risks to military personnel of child-bearing age exposed to the virus during deployments.
A fetus infected with the Zika virus during the first three months of pregnancy has about a 1% to 13% chance of developing microcephaly, an abnormally small head usually caused by incomplete brain development, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Among the 17 infected are four women, though none were pregnant, said Dr. Jose Sanchez, deputy chief of Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch.
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WNU Editor: I am sure that the U.S. military is going to take precautions (see above video) .... they are not going to take any chances. But I feel for the people who live in the hot zones in Central and South America. All my contacts who live there are telling me the same thing .... no one is prepared for this.
I am pissed off,
ReplyDeletebut I think the military response will be to eradicate everything including all the dogs and cats than can or could be reservoirs for the virus.
Why do you need vets to put down any and all cats and dogs in or around a military encampment?
Now if a vet was going to inoculate a dog or a cat, they would have a purpose.
Mascots are great morale boosters. Maybe it would help treat PTSD in the field and afterwards.