According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while no locally acquired cases of the Zika virus disease have been confirmed in the U.S., there have been 29 travel-associated cases reported in California, two of which were right here in the Inland Empire.
With this topic continuing to spread in the local media, the World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California, in collaboration with Loma Linda University Health, chose to utilize World Health Day, April 7, as an opportunity to bring answers to questions and concerns surrounding both the Zika and Ebola viruses.
The event took place in Randall Visitors Center at Loma Linda University Health with infectious disease specialists Ingrid Blomquist, MD, from Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Michael Ing, MD, from VA Loma Linda Healthcare System presenting. Participating in a Q&A session were Allan Darnell, MD, from the Loma Linda University Center for Health Promotion travel clinic, and Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health.
With nearly 70 individuals in attendance, questions ranged from how to respond to those who fear travel due to these diseases to how to ensure the safety of loved ones living in infected areas for extended periods of time.
Ing, who presented on Zika, made the comparison to dengue fever, saying that it failed to become a serious problem after breaking out in Florida and Mexico.
“That gives us hope that this will not become a big outbreak in California,” Ing said. “Even if there are selected outbreaks, it’s not going to be here 10 years. It’ll just come, and it’ll move on.”
To learn more about either of these infectious diseases, please visit the links below.
To learn more about upcoming World Affairs Council events, please visit www.wacinlandsocal.org.