CDC issues travel alert over Zika virus that causes miscarriages; affected regions include Latin America and the Caribbean

Thursday, January 21, 2016 by: L.J. Devon, Staff Writer
Tags: Zika virus, CDC alert, pregnant women

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(NaturalNews) For approximately two hours after the sun rises and several hours before it sets, the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are out lurking, looking for blood to feed on or a pool of stagnant water to reproduce in. The Aedes mosquitoes are the infamous vectors of three nasty viral infections: dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever. These viral infections can elicit serious flu-like symptoms, including severe joint pain. Those who have suppressed immune systems are most vulnerable, especially those who are traveling to areas where exposure to the virus is heightened.

Now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are issuing a travel alert for the Zika virus, which is also transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes. The Zika virus may cause mild illness, including fever, rash and joint pain.

Zika virus could cause miscarriage, birth defects

The Zika virus may also affect a woman's pregnancy and cause a miscarriage. British health authorities provided Dr. Lyle Peterson, director of the CDC's division of vector-borne diseases, with two tissue samples from pregnancies that ended in miscarriage. They confirmed through genetic analysis that Zika virus was present in both samples.

They also looked at samples from two infants who were diagnosed with a birth defect characterized by a small brain and incomplete brain development. Zika virus was present in those samples as well, making health officials wonder how dangerous the virus is to the brain.

The CDC is now issuing a travel alert for the following countries: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant are being warned by the CDC about Zika's potential to cause miscarriage and birth defects.

The CDC has confirmed 26 cases of Zika in the U.S. since 2007. The virus is being carried into the country from Latin America and the Caribbean – two hot-spots for mosquito borne illnesses. Zika virus outbreaks are also prevalent in Africa and Southeast Asia where piped water systems are rare and standing water is common.

Strengthen your immune system to protect against viruses

When traveling to Aedes mosquito hot-spots, travelers should make it a priority to wear protective clothing and use netting when appropriate. There are safe mosquito repellent combinations that don't cause allergic reactions, that should be used early and often in mosquito hot-spots.

Travelers should also prepare their immune systems weeks before their trips, and should keep them strong while traveling. Preparing the microbiome by diversifying and strengthening the presence of good bacteria should be paramount. Using apple cider vinegar and prebiotic-rich raw honey in the diet on a daily basis for several weeks, can prepare the body to respond to viral attacks more rapidly and with greater efficacy.

The Loyola University Health System in Chicago discovered that certain Bacillus bacteria (good bacteria) in the digestive tract form spores during times of stress. When these bacteria spores meet B lymphocytes from the immune system, the molecules bind, activating the B cells to reproduce faster. This action promotes the rapid reproduction of antibodies to help fight against viral and bacterial infections.

As this study suggests, and as affirmed through personal experience, the extracts of astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus) and goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadenisis) have a strong immune system modulating effect, helping stimulate macrophage responses in the body when inflamed by virus attacks.

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, found that "both goldenseal and Astragalus were able to modify responses from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, with identified Immunomodulatory effects to reduce production of TNF-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-12 in a dose-dependent manner. The results obtained indicate that both goldenseal and Astragalus exhibit abilities to modulate macrophage responses during stimulation."

Sources include:

Reuters.com

CDC.gov

NaturalNews.com

CDC.news