Lesson Learned from recent EBOLA and ZIKA episodes. We need to designate REGIONAL EMERGING VIRUSES REFERRAL CENTERS (REVRCs). 1. There should not be an automatic default to just designating Ebola Centers as REVRCs although there is likely to be significant overlap. 2. REVRCs should be academic medical centers with respected, comprehensive infectious disease diagnostic/ treatment
Most pregnant women with Zika will eventually wind up at academic medical centers for prenatal care and delivery by a perinatologist, with newborn care provided by a comprehensive team of pediatrician sub-specialists including neonatologists and pediatric neurologists. The earlier during the pregnancy the better! Here’s why….. Highlights from August’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinating Council Kevin Chason,
To fight Zika, Central Florida hospitals and doctors ramp up patient education, surveillance In the fight against the spread of Zika, local doctors and hospitals are ramping up education and surveillance in Central Florida to contain the spread of the virus. There is a heavy emphasis on patient education, while providers are on high
As many of you know I have been advocating (unsuccessfully) for the designation of Zika Regional Referral Centers (ZRRFs). Perhaps this article from STAT will convince policy makers that it is time to stage Zika hospital preparedness. With little known about Zika virus, hospitals scramble to stay ahead By Andrew Joseph https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/17/hospitals-zika-virus-disease-birth-defects/ “The threat of
CDC’s revised Zika Interim Response Plan (July) states: ”Neither vaccines nor proven clinical treatments are expected to be available to treat or prevent virus infections before local transmission begins within CONUS or Hawaii.”; “Scientific understanding of Zika virus continues to evolve, and new characteristics of the virus and how it is spread may arise.” (A)
Former hospital prez says: Designate local Zika centers now Hudson Reporter http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/27199087/article-Former-hospital-prez-says–Designate-local-Zika-centers-now-?instance=top_story to get a free daily update on Zika news subscribe at https://www.statnews.com/series/zika-update/ The following is an editorial submitted by Dr. Jonathan M. Metsch, a health educator and the former CEO of Jersey City Medical Center who is also a Hoboken resident Medical experts