Public health labs to get help sharing Zika test data electronically stat : healthdatamanagement

"Once we get these pilots up and running, other states and other state public health labs will hopefully agree to take part in this," he concluded. Although nearly all laboratory testing for the Zika virus is conducted at public health laboratories, most of these labs currently do not have the ability to electronically exchange information such as orders and test results. Bloomberg file photoSo far, in 2017, there are only 110 Zika cases in the U.S. Among the goals of the project, which is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, is to ensure that public health labs receive a standard pregnancy status with electronic lab orders. Also See: Fed agencies enlist EHRs in battle against ZikaThe agencies are also partnering with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, according to Michael Baker, an analyst in ONC's Office of Policy.




It is hoped that because Zika normally attacks the developing brain cells of fetuses, it may also home in on the developing cancer cells in the brain. Researchers in the United Kingdom are set to test whether the Zika virus can fight difficult-to-treat brain cancer by attacking its cells, potentially opening up new pathways to treat the aggressive disease. While the impact of Zika on the developing brain is devastating, it does not appear to affect fully developed brains. Bulstrode's experiments will involve testing the Zika against glioblastoma cells in a dish and on mice models. The major complications of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas and Asia are caused by the virus's ability to cross the placenta and infect the brain of the fetus.

Scientists to test whether Zika can kill brain cancer cells

Scientists in Britain plan to harness the Zika virus to try to kill brain tumor cells in experiments that they say could lead to new ways to fight an aggressive type of cancer. "If we can learn lessons from Zika's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target brain stem cells selectively, we could be holding the key to future treatments." In glioblastoma, the cancer cells are similar to those in the developing brain, suggesting that the virus could be used to target them while sparing normal adult brain tissue. Researchers led by Harry Bulstrode at Cambridge University will use tumor cells in the lab and in mice to assess Zika's potential. The research will focus on glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of barely 5 percent.


collected by :Lucy William
To follow all the new news about

VIRUSES and INFECTIONS