American Samoa evaluating zika transmissions

Transcript

American Samoa's Health Department says the eight confirmed cases of Zika signify that there's ongoing transmission of the virus in the territory.  

Initial tests of 25 blood samples has confirmed four Zika cases, one of whom is pregnant.

The samples were later retested and another four positive samples were found, though none are expectant mothers.

The Department's Deputy Epidemiologist, Scott Anesi, says they are collecting data on pregnant women from the LBJ Hospital.

He spoke with Bridget Grace about evaluating the Zika transmissions.

SCOTT ANESI: The main thing right now is not only identifying those but with a 20 percent symptomatic rate for Zika virus we know that there's a greater portion of people out there without symptoms that are carrying Zika virus.  So the main concern right now is with pregnant population, we're trying to stand up a pregnancy registry so we identify all the pregnant women on the island and try and get them as much preventive items as possible.  Such as bed nets, looser long-sleeve clothing as well as mosquito repellant.  And to identify the areas that they're at on the island so that we can focus our source reduction and vector control activities.  

BRIDGET GRACE: How concerned are you about the virus spreading?

SA: The concern is always there with any virus.  Now Zika is one that is not new to the Pacific Rim.  It's one that we initially thought it's very mild and most of the cases that we're seeing are very mild.  Right now we're concerned primarily on the transmissions to the pregnant population.  Pregnant mothers right now are our top priority in reducing the vector around where they live as well as providing items to them for prevention and education.  And if they do develop symptoms from Zika virus, to make sure that they get the best care possible for both them and their baby.

BG: In terms of giving out those items like the mosquito nets and that sort of thing, do you know how many women have been taking that up?

SA: Well right now we're still in the process of putting the kits together because it's kind of a lengthy process to identify all the pregnant women on the island.  But right now we have been able to identify 548 on the island who are currently seeking care.  So what we're trying to do now is to push our educational materials on Zika virus first before we can start to mobilise all of our prevention kit and push them out to that population.

BG: Is that how many pregnant women there are?

SA: That's the tentative count right now as you can imagine there's a lot of factors that play into the role.  We do our data count from last year June so it would include those that are coming into their delivery date now.  And so we're evaluating all these cases and coming up with the count.  So that number is actually a fluctuating number.  

BG: The health department there were having appointments for pregnant women for free for check-ups and that sort of thing, do you know what the response to that has been?

SA: That is one of the important factors right now.  One of the things that's difficult is some of the fees associated with, not only the visits, but the laboratory testing for the pregnant women.  And so the Department of Health is offering all those services for free right now.  And the message has been well-received within the community.  We're starting to see more pregnant women starting to come in.  But the message has been out and the decision has been made relatively recently so we're hoping that within the next couple of weeks we're going to start to spread out that message and once the population starts to receive it that there's going to be more coming in for more treatment, laboratory testing and continued prenatal care.