Lubbock health experts say Zika no longer a complete mystery, still a threat quoting : Lubbock

Katherine Wells, director of public health with the Lubbock Health Department, said the Lubbock case was travel-associated, meaning the individual acquired it while in a Zika-affected region. The Zika virus stirred concern and a bit of panic when it spread into United States territories last year. Martinelli said the likelihood of Lubbock experiencing a Zika virus outbreak is low but it could happen. For now, the Health Department is working closely with Lubbock Vector Control on plans to ensure the city;s mosquito population remains under control. "Here's the thing," said Dr. Larry Martinelli, infectious disease doctor with Covenant Health.




The scientist's action spread the mistake to all others conducting Zika testing between July 14 and Dec. 14 of last year. Smith testified that the lead scientist in charge of the Zika testing for the D.C. lab put an incorrect testing formula into an Excel spreadsheet. WASHINGTON — Some of the 409 people tested for the Zika virus last year by D.C.'s public health lab are awaiting the results of retesting after the lab discovered its Zika test was defective. "I would do anything to un-ring the bell, but we cannot," Smith told the committee. Related Stories 2 pregnant women test positive for Zika after DC lab's incorrect results Washington, DC NewsA D.C. Council committee summoned the director of the Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Jennifer Smith, to explain why D.C.'s lab had the erroneous Zika test results — the only one in the nation to do so.

Federal officials are auditing D.C. public health lab in wake of botched Zika tests

CMS oversees virtually all lab tests involving humans in the United States, ensuring that analysts comply with federal law, so loss of certification could shutter the public health lab until it can come into compliance. The number of incorrect results from last year may rise, as retesting of samples from the D.C. lab is not complete. (Felipe Dana/AP)Federal regulators are auditing the District's public health lab in response to botched Zika testing that erroneously provided negative results to at least nine pregnant women, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences Director Jenifer Smith said Tuesday. Public health officials say they do not know how far along in their pregnancies the women were when they were tested or whether they have given birth. Allen said Tuesday that lab officials should follow up with those providers to confirm the women had been told their test results were faulty.



collected by :Lucy William
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