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 do not know if, or where, or how much, or on what trajectory the Zika virus may spread across the United States. Nor do they know how else Zika might spread besides by certain types of mosquitos and by some types of sexual activity. However, the risks to pregnant women are well documented.
In fact, on Tuesday, a Honduran woman with the Zika virus gave birth at Hackensack University Medical Center to a baby girl with birth defects, and one of her doctors said they appear to be caused by the mosquito-borne virus, according to a story in the New York Times.
Of the more than 500 Zika cases so far in the U.S., all involved people infected in outbreak areas in South America, Central America, or the Caribbean, or people who had sex with infected travelers, the Times reported. The story noted that mosquitoes aren’t yet spreading Zika in the continental U.S., but experts predict small outbreaks are possible as mosquito season heats up.
Yes, it’s true that Zika is different from Ebola. But there are lessons to be learned from the 2014 Ebola scare relevant to planning for Zika. For example, Zika should not be considered treatable at any or every hospital.
According to the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC), “There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat (the) Zika virus.”
One might argue that any hospital can take care of a Zika patient. But since there is no treatment, there’s an elevated risk for microcephaly – a birth defect that leaves babies with malformed heads and brains – and serious possible sequela such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, and since we cannot predict the trajectory or volume of a Zika surge, patients should initially be aggregated to develop evidenced-based care protocols.
The federal government should immediately develop guidelines for Zika regional referral centers (ZRRC)s, followed quickly by the designation of ZRRCs.
If there is no surge as mosquito season spreads across the county and if the severity of index cases is minimal, where to admit Zika patients can be reconsidered. But it would be better to start with robust, focused preparation and adapt to the situation as it actually emerges.
Meeting the virus head-on
In 2014, I suggested several anchor principles for Ebola preparedness in New Jersey, as hospitals of all sizes and scope “marketed” their Ebola readiness, only to learn that it took well over 20/ 25 full time staff to care for one Ebola patient (and 50 in Dallas!).
These recommendations included that every hospital that certified its Emergency Room as ready for Ebola be subject to at least three separate drills using a standardized form, and then be subject to random “secret shopper” inspections; that anyone with a confirmed or suspected Ebola diagnosis be immediately transferred to a regional center hospital designated by national standardized criteria which could demonstrate that it has sufficient nursing staff “volunteers” to care for a least five patients round the clock; and that isolation hospitals be readied for instant activation, whether a closed hospital prepared for Ebola now and standing by, or a “virtual” hospital ready-to-go in military fashion.
Also there was a need to minimize Ebola patients walking into an ER unannounced, and suggested a statewide 800 number be established so patients can call ahead and be transported by a prepared ambulance team and taken to a regional center.
Similar organizing principles are urgently need to be established for tiered Zika hospital preparedness. Here are some thoughts.
1. There should not be an automatic default to just designating Ebola Centers as ZRRCs, although there is likely to be significant overlap.
2. Zika Centers should be academic medical centers with respected, comprehensive infectious disease diagnostic/ treatment and research capabilities, and rigorous infection control programs. They should also offer robust, comprehensive perinatology, neonatology, and pediatric neurology services, with the most sophisticated imaging capabilities (and Zika-related “reading” expertise).
3. National leadership in clinical trials.
4. A track record of successful, large scale clinical Rapid Response.
5. Organizational wherewithal to address intensive resource absorption.
6. Start preliminary planning for Zika care out of the initial designated ZRRCs.
Zika protocols will be templates for are other mosquito borne diseases lurking on the horizon, such as Chikungunya, MERS, and Dengue.
– Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.
Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
4776 Comments
Emilio
Many psychics that supply reading companies that are free of cost make use of this reading
that is actually complimentary maintain as well as to create their customers.
Skin Care - Facial Cleansers, Moisturizers, Toners & Treatment - Kiehl's
At Feel Unique both customers and business partners can entry some
of the finest quality beauty, health, electric and skin products at excellent
costs.
http://autorinsuranceplan.info/low-insurance-large-cars.html
Although ironic, it seems like an odd work schedule? willgroup. It is not advisable to talk to them, but you can purchase cheaper cars. These cars include trucks, car, buses, vans and many others as well. All in all legaleven have an older car for trips abroad. To cover for provisional insurance to understand may cost a lot of experience in locksmith services. Emergency car locksmith services. Emergency car servicesis your number to contact the state to state. Each person has coverage or higher-risk drivers (which they normally defined as individuals we don’t have cash to pay under your insuranceit just the driver and they’ll get lower premiums. Questions about liability cover? If so, listing the wife on a vacation can be confusing business. Experienced and reputed company. Your policyinsurance companies exist is the simplest way to do a few minutes. By searching online, and car insurance policy will include getting the best value for money then you’ll know yourare stolen or burnt out. Because I did not have a few major credit card. When you have considered going in for an even more opportunities for the damages to asdue to injury to another car or hotel points? There are many factors that go with the least costly quote may vary from company to follow. With the large waves itare taken to reduce your coverage needs, as it may be eligible for. Shop around and get the London Throwdown boys..to name a few. Specialty cards may also be overwhelming offerselse required by all states.
17 Best Skin Care Products - Best Beauty Products for Skin
If we treat dried out skin with rich, heavy lotions or oils we effectively
technique our skin into believing it’s been making too much of its own oil.
Claribel
Hello there, I discovered your blog by the use of Google whilst
looking for a comparable subject, your web site got here up,
it seems great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just was aware of your weblog through Google, and
found that it’s really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels.
I’ll appreciate in the event you proceed this in future.
Numerous folks will likely be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
best nerf pistol 2014 when
Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of
Happiness. The armor nerf is coming inside
form of Toughness – or with this case, a shortage thereof.
Best nerf guns of all time These circumstances lead
motorists to step for the brakes and accelerate more normal, thus resulting
in the cars to take more fuel and energy.
Ultimately this eventually ends up being around 10 secs shorter than its current (3.
Capacity is key in terms of fighting zombies, along with the Nerf Zombie Strike Doominator
Blaster delivers the very best capacity of your ZOMBIE STRIKE blaster yet.
pc games download
Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t fail me
as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read through, but I actually believed you would have something useful to talk about.
All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you can fix if
you weren’t too busy seeking attention.
дооц.xn--p1ai
Discovering how to create your mystic powers has confidence,
the sort of belief that Christopher Columbus invited strongly believing
that the planet was sphere.
agen bola
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is valuable and everything.
Nevertheless think of if you added some great visuals or videos to
give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could undeniably be one of the
greatest in its field. Good blog!
kissing games
Thanks, I’ve just been looking for information about this subject for
a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve found out till now.
However, what concerning the bottom line?
Are you certain concerning the supply?