Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Efforts To Keep Zika Out Of United States' Blood Supply Seem To Pay Off
The New York Times: Zika Infection In U.S. Is Still Rare So Far, Blood Donations Indicate
By the end of this week, all blood banks in the continental United States must begin testing donated blood for contamination with the Zika virus. Many banks are doing so already, and the early results indicate that the country has dodged a bullet — for now. Screenings in a dozen states suggest that Zika infection remains exceedingly rare. Among the approximately 800,000 blood donations tested in the past six months or so, about 40 were initially positive for the virus. (Saint Louis, 11/14)
Sacramento Bee: California Department Of Public Health Warns Holiday Travelers Headed For Mexico To Avoid Zika Virus Infections
Holiday travelers headed to Mexico this winter were warned Monday to protect themselves against Zika-carrying mosquitoes. Any travel to Mexico is now considered to be risky for Zika virus infections, especially for pregnant women, according to the California Department of Public Health, which specifically cited popular tourist destinations such as Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Mazatlan. (Buck, 11/14)
