Officials: State Needs To Ramp Up Zika Efforts As Federal Funding Lags
As the number of Californians testing positive for the virus grows, local leaders push education and prevention efforts. In other news, the American Red Cross is calling for donors in the San Diego area.
Mercury News:
As Zika Spreads In California, Leaders Call For More Money, Education
California needs to be better prepared for the Zika virus and do more to educate people about how it spreads, especially since federal funding has stalled, state and local health officials determined last week. The call for a massive education campaign came during a town hall meeting in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, sponsored by state Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina. Hernandez said concerns about Zika are growing, especially since the number of people who have it in the Golden State continues to climb. As of Friday, 282 people had tested positive for Zika, or 22 more cases than the week before, according to the California Department of Public Health. (Abram, 9/19)
KPBS:
American Red Cross Seeks Blood Donations Amid National Shortage
The American Red Cross Monday announced a national shortage of blood and platelets, and publicized a series of donation opportunities in San Diego County over the next several weeks. Donations around the U.S. in the first two weeks of September were down more than 10,000 from what is needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for emergencies, the Red Cross said. "September is National Preparedness Month and we urge eligible donors to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets," said Nick Gehrig, communications director of Red Cross Blood Services. (9/19)
Meanwhile, the West Nile virus continues to be a problem, with more cases confirmed —
Orange County Register:
West Nile Cases In Orange County Rise To 16
Sixteen Orange County residents have contracted West Nile virus so far this season, and infected mosquitoes have been trapped in 27 local cities. As of Monday, there were 10 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the most severe form of the illness; three cases of the milder West Nile fever; and three asymptomatic cases, according to the county’s Health Care Agency. Jared Dever, spokesman for Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, said the district’s lab this year has tested 3,647 mosquito samples and that 338 have come back positive for the virus. Last year at this time, 3,459 samples had been tested, with 318 positives. (Perkes, 9/19)