Mosquito-borne Zika Virus Spreads Through US, Danger To Pregnant Women

[From article]
U.S. health officials are reporting new cases of a mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects.
Three cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Florida, and two pregnant women tested positive in Illinois. Texas and Hawaii also have confirmed cases, including a baby born with a birth defect.
The growing cases at home are traced back to overseas, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel alert over the virus, warning pregnant women to avoid some of the most popular American vacation destinations, reports Elaine Quijano of CBS News' digital network, CBSN.
In the handful of confirmed cases in the U.S., those infected traveled outside of the country and tested positive once they got home.
The Zika virus is caused by the Aedes mosquito. It's been determined women can pass the virus to their babies, causing birth defects.
The CDC's warning to pregnant women is clear: If you have the symptoms, see a doctor and get tested for an infection.
All of the Zika cases in the U.S. involve foreign travel. The Florida victims traveled to Colombia and Venezuela and the two pregnant women in Illinois visited Central America and the Caribbean. A Texas man was also diagnosed after he returned from El Salvador in November.
[. . .]
Brazil is claiming thousands of babies have been born with brain injuries. Officials there are urging women - who can wait - to hold off on becoming pregnant until the crisis is under control.
In less than 200 days, Brazil is set to host millions for the 2016 Olympics. There is no vaccine and no course of treatment for the Zika virus.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-aedes-mosquito-birth-defects-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-travel-alert/

CBS NEWS

January 20, 2016, 7:13 AM
Concerns over Zika virus outbreak growing in U.S.

* * *

[From article]
Pregnant women who have traveled to regions where the Zika virus is prevalent should be tested for the infection, according to new guidance from US health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said doctors should ask pregnant women about their travel and certain symptoms.
And, if there are signs of infection or reason to believe the fetus may be affected, the woman should be tested and ultrasounds should monitor the baby's development, the CDC recommended.
Zika is spread through mosquito bites - with outbreaks currently in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The tropical virus has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect in which the head is smaller than normal - and the brain may not have developed properly.
There is no vaccine for the virus, but a developer said it created a genetically modified mosquito that reduces the number of mosquitoes spreading Zika in Brazil.
Zika infections typically only cause a mild illness - if at all.
Most people with Zika don't develop symptoms, but those that do usually only develop a fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.
Those symptoms rarely last longer than a week.
However, there's mounting evidence that the infection can cause birth defects if acquired by a pregnant woman.
Yet, in the Brazil cases, most of the mothers appeared to have been infected during their first trimester.
However, CDC officials have said that there is some evidence the birth defect can occur later in pregnancy.
The CDC issued guidance last week that women should consider postponing trips to 14 destinations.
Those places include Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.
Women who are trying to get pregnant - or thinking of getting pregnant - were also advised to talk to their doctors before traveling to those areas.
They were also advised to take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3407261/CDC-Ask-pregnant-women-trips-Zika-outbreak-areas.html

Test pregnant women for Zika virus, say CDC experts - amid concerns over link to 'incomplete brain development in babies'
CDC recommends doctors test pregnant women for Zika virus
The guidance only covers women who traveled to countries with the virus
That includes popular vacation spots in Latin America and Caribbean
Zika is linked to a birth defect where a baby has an abnormally small head
The virus is passed through a type of mosquito called Aedes
A developer said it created modified Aedes to reduce the virus's spread
By LISA RYAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 18:23 EST, 19 January 2016 | UPDATED: 16:36 EST, 20 January 2016

Stranded California Woman Gives Birth In Forest, Both Rescued and Healthy

[From article]
According to Pangborn’s mother, her daughter was nine months pregnant and decided to visit an Oroville casino Wednesday to walk around in an attempt to induce labor. Williams said her daughter was traveling to another area casino when she ended up on a remote road in the national forest and ran out of gas. There was no mobile phone reception, Williams said. Oroville is about 80 miles north of Sacramento.
Williams said her daughter told her she went into labor early Thursday, unrolled a sleeping bag and gave birth in her car’s backseat. Williams said Pangborn spent the next two days swatting away bees and insects, fearful of a bear attack. Mother and daughter survived on water and apples, Williams said.
On Saturday, Williams said Pangborn used a lighter, a can of hairspray and a can of oil to start a signal fire with the sleeping bag.

http://nypost.com/2015/07/01/mother-stranded-in-forest-gives-birth-fights-off-bees-survives-on-apples/

Mother stranded in forest gives birth, fights bees, survives on apples
By Associated Press
New York Post
July 1, 2015 | 9:20am

Woman Gives Birth, Survives Having No Pulse

[From article]
Ruby Graupera-Cassimiro had gone 45 minutes without a pulse when doctors called her family into the operating room and told them there was nothing more they could do.
A team of more than a dozen doctors and nurses had been working desperately to revive her. But now they'd lost hope that the 40-year-old Deerfield Beach woman, whose heart had given out without warning after a routine C-section at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, was going to make it.
Devastated, Graupera-Cassimiro's husband, mother and sister said goodbye to her just hours after they'd welcomed a healthy baby girl. The medical team stopped all lifesaving procedures. They watched a heart monitor, preparing to record a time of death.
And then the impossible happened: A blip of a heartbeat showed up. Then another, and another.
Within a few hours, Graupera-Cassimiro, a human resources manager and now a mother of two, was tugging at the breathing tube on her face and scribbling notes to family.
[. . .]
Graupera-Cassimiro returned to the hospital Tuesday for a tearful reunion with the medical team that fought to save her. She hugged the doctors and nurses -- who cooed over her daughter, dressed head to toe in pink -- and thanked them.
"God had the right people in the right place," Graupera-Cassimiro said as she cradled the sleeping baby, named Taily.

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boca-raton/woman-who-had-no-pulse-for-45-minutes-makes-fully-recovery-doctors-call-miraculous

Woman who had no pulse for 45 minutes makes fully recovery; doctors call miraculous
Sun Sentinel, Distributed by MCT Information Services
4:15 PM, Nov 7, 2014

Women Selling Positive Pregnancy Tests Online

[From article]
One Craigslist ad posted last year by a Central New Jersey woman read: “I am pregnant and will sell you a positive pregnancy test. These will be taken right before you’re ready to pick them up. Wanna get your boyfriend to finally pop the question? Play a trick on mom, dad or one of your friends? I really don’t care what you use it for.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/05/07/seen-at-11-positive-pregnancy-tests-up-for-sale-online/

Seen At 11: Positive Pregnancy Tests Up For Sale Online
Seller Morality Just As Disturbing As Buyer; Ads Designed To Trap Unsuspecting Men
May 7, 2014 11:27 PM

CBS News New York NY

Man Attacks Psychiatrist, Whose Sister Makes Diagnosis

Sisters of psychiatrists make diagnoses which journalists obediently report. Who needs psychiatrists if anyone can make diagnoses and have the media broadcast the diagnosis. It is cheaper this way. So what if the psychiatrist fathered an out of wedlock child and maybe was not
paying support. Who cares. Just lock up the accused ones. They are always guilty.

[From article]
Police say Nolan is not one of Dr Weiss' patients -- the connection is personal.
Dr Weiss, 38, reportedly dated Nolan's cousin and fathered a child with her.
Nolan was upset after a dispute about Dr Weiss paying for the child's school tuition, the Post reports.
Dr Weiss' sister told officers that Nolan has a history of mental illness.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2232616/Dr-Michael-Weiss-New-York-psychiatrist-attacked-sledgehammer.html

'Mentally ill' man attacks psychiatrist in his office with
sledgehammer and knife
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 21:34 EST, 13 November 2012 | UPDATED: 21:38 EST, 13 November 2012

Media Distortion Thrives During Campaign Season

Here is one more example of media distortion and diverting attention. Among the literate journalist class and politicians, the comment by US Rep. Akin, (R-MO) is a major event. Especially to liberal journalists. But conservatives and Republicans also fear being accused of being anti abortion, so they condemn this man and his bad science. The idea that we have so many disappointing elected officials is due to the voters. Who gives power to non voters to tell the voters of a district who they should vote for? Journalists believe they are best qualified to choose who should be elected. Look at who we have as a result of their leadership and media management. Akin's comment is one of thousands which are offensive to rational citizens. Georgia Rep. Johnson (D-GA) speaking during a Congressional hearing suggested that having too many Marines assigned to an island would make that island tip over. Which is more disturbing? Johnson was repealing gravity not rape and pregnancy laws. Issues have a priorities like most government efforts. Some are misguided at best. Journalists play to the powerful groups just as the spineless politicians do. Once I called to a Boston Globe reporter who wrote about human experiments. I spoke with her sharing some of the research I did for a bill I wrote for the state legislature. After my presentation she asked me, "Who do you represent?" I wondered what she meant and answered "I represent myself." That was enough for her. Without an organization what I said was meaningless to her. I realized then what journalists were doing. Reality is not determined by nature or facts, but by wealthy powerful groups which influence voters and maybe newspaper buyers or advertisers? This is one more example. How does this one comment affect the lives of people in this country no less in Missouri? Laws exist about pregnancy and rape. Rape is a crime and women get pregnant no matter what this guy says. But to waste valuable media space and time on this one comment shows how misguided journalists are. And in this case it applies to liberals, conservatives, Democrats and Republicans.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1061154680

Scott Brown bolts from GOP nut
Boston Herald
By Margery Eagan
Tuesday, August 21, 2012

New Test For Down Syndrome

[From article]
"Dr. Palomaki’s assurance that “nearly all women with a normal pregnancy could avoid an invasive diagnostic procedure” also deserves consideration. Most parents of children with Down syndrome would object to the crass labeling of their sons and daughters as abnormal. Putting that aside, Down syndrome is but a small fraction of the baseline risk every pregnancy has for what is commonly considered a birth defect. Further, Down syndrome represents only about half of chromosomal conditions identified through invasive testing. This means that for each woman who opts for invasive testing following a positive MaterniT21 result, there could be another woman falsely reassured by a negative result that her child will not have a chromosomal condition."

http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2011/11/4240

The Reckless, Profitable Elimination of Down Syndrome
by Mark W. Leach
November 10, 2011
Public Discourse
A new Down syndrome test raises important questions.