Hear from Esper Kallas, M.D., Ph.D., an infectious diseases specialist and professor of Medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, for this panel discussion about the unfolding Zika virus situation.
As the warm summer season approaches, the possibility of a Zika outbreak in the United States looms large, and the greatest concern is for women of childbearing age, as studies continue to link exposure to the virus in pregnancy to serious birth defects like microcephaly, hearing loss, and blindness.
Kallas will give a brief talk on his experience at the epicenter of the outbreak and then be joined by a panel of experts from URMC in taking questions from the audience.
John J. Treanor, M.D., chief of the Infectious Diseases Division, UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital
Eva K. Pressman, M.D., chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital
Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D., vice dean for research and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Kallas, who trained with infectious disease experts at URMC from 1996 to 1998, has witnessed the outbreak unfold in Brazil. He treats patients exposed to the virus and is conducting research to determine how often Zika infection in pregnancy leads to birth defects.
Currently, all cases of Zika virus in the U.S. are travel-associated, and Treanor believes that the risk of local transmission of the virus is low. But, he cautions that Zika is an important public health problem that everyone should be concerned about.
Pressman advises women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant to follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including avoiding travel to areas with Zika. If a woman must travel to an area with active Zika virus transmission, she should talk to her health care provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip.
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