VCU hosts Facebook Live chat with Zika expert on Wednesday

By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

The Olympic Games kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Friday and, while the ensuing 16 days will center on athletic events, the games’ location also renews worldwide concern about Zika virus. The World Health Organization says there is “very low risk” of the games spreading the virus, but as the home to the most recent outbreak, Brazil remains a hotbed for questions related to the disease.

More locally, Florida health officials confirmed last week that individuals had been infected with the virus by local mosquitoes, marking the first known cases of the virus being transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States.

Categorized in the same family of viruses as dengue, Zika causes no more than mild discomfort in most people, but the disease can be devastating for pregnant women. Zika causes severe birth defects including microcephaly, a syndrome that causes children to be born with unusually small heads. A small head can cause serious developmental issues and sometimes death.

As an academic medical center with a staff that includes experts in infectious disease, infection control and epidemiology, VCU Health is committed to serving as a reliable source of information for those who want to learn more about Zika virus.

On Wednesday, Aug. 3, VCU Health will host a Facebook Live interview from 1 to 2 p.m. with Gonzalo Bearman, M.D., chairman of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU School of Medicine and hospital epidemiologist at VCU Medical Center. During the chat, Bearman will answer questions related to the disease and address how VCU is equipped to confront it, should it eventually reach Virginia. Join the conversation by commenting on Facebook with your questions or tweeting us using #VCUHealthChat.