Publications

don't curb your enthusiasm.	the texas department of state health services commissioner john hellerstedt, md, talks about his assessment of the state health department, how medicine can help the agency achieve its public health mission, and the challenges involved in zika virus.	2016	27175927
male-to-male sexual transmission of zika virus--texas, january 2016.	zika virus infection has been linked to increased risk for guillain-barré syndrome and adverse fetal outcomes, including congenital microcephaly. in january 2016, after notification from a local health care provider, an investigation by dallas county health and human services (dchhs) identified a case of sexual transmission of zika virus between a man with recent travel to an area of active zika virus transmission (patient a) and his nontraveling male partner (patient b). at this time, there had ...	2016	27078057
zika virus was transmitted by sexual contact in texas, health officials report.		2016	26848011
first us case of zika virus infection is identified in texas.		2016	26762624
differential vector competency of aedes albopictus populations from the americas for zika virus.	to evaluate the potential role of aedes albopictus (skuse) as a vector of zika virus (zikv), colonized mosquitoes of low generation number (≤ f5) from brazil, houston, and the rio grande valley of texas engorged on viremic mice infected with zikv strains originating from senegal, cambodia, mexico, brazil, or puerto rico. vector competence was established by monitoring infection, dissemination, and transmission potential after 3, 7, and 14 days of extrinsic incubation. positive saliva samples wer ...	2017	28829735
notes from the field: zika virus-associated neonatal birth defects surveillance - texas, january 2016-july 2017.	on november 28, 2016, the texas department of state health services (texas dshs) reported its first confirmed case of local mosquitoborne zika virus transmission in the city of brownsville, located in south texas along the u.s.-mexico border. zika virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to adverse congenital outcomes including microcephaly, neural tube defects, early brain malformations, structural eye abnormalities, congenital deafness, and limb contractures (1). on january 1, 2016, te ...	2017	28796762
knowledge and prevention practices among u.s. pregnant immigrants from zika virus outbreak areas.	we administered an anonymous survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices related to the zika virus among pregnant women residing in texas. multivariate logistic regression models controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education, and number of years in the united states assessed differences between women born in outbreak areas (n = 390) versus those born in the united states (n = 249). results demonstrated that most women wanted more information on the zika virus and desired to ...	2017	28719291
assessing real-time zika risk in the united states.	confirmed local transmission of zika virus (zikv) in texas and florida have heightened the need for early and accurate indicators of self-sustaining transmission in high risk areas across the southern united states. given zikv's low reporting rates and the geographic variability in suitable conditions, a cluster of reported cases may reflect diverse scenarios, ranging from independent introductions to a self-sustaining local epidemic.	2017	28468671
quantifying the potential pathways and locations of rift valley fever virus entry into the united states.	the global invasion of west nile virus, chikungunya virus and zika virus in the past two decades suggests an increasing rate of mosquito-borne virus (arbovirus) dispersal. rift valley fever virus (rvfv) is an arbovirus identified as a high-consequence threat to the united states (usa) because of the severe economic and health consequences associated with disease. numerous studies demonstrate that the usa is receptive to rvfv transmission based on the widespread presence of competent mosquito spe ...	2017	28191786
access to contraception in the context of zika: health system challenges and responses.	women in areas of the americas with endemic aedes mosquito populations are at risk for exposure to zika virus, which can cause fetal brain abnormalities and associated congenital microcephaly. individual health care providers may encounter health system barriers to providing evidence-based care. we focus on mexico and the state of texas to highlight the role of health system factors in contraceptive access in the context of zika and highlight efforts in puerto rico as an example of initiatives t ...	2017	28277362
the rise of neglected tropical diseases in the "new texas".	within the last five years, the state of texas has experienced either transmission or outbreaks of ebola, chikungunya, west nile, and zika virus infections. autochthonous transmission of neglected parasitic and bacterial diseases has also become increasingly reported. the rise of such emerging and neglected tropical diseases (ntds) has not occurred by accident but instead reflects rapidly evolving changes and shifts in a "new" texas beset by modern and globalizing forces that include rapid expan ...	2018	29346369