Only about 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus show symptoms, and those are typically mild. But the recent outbreak of this mosquito-borne virus in Brazil and its sweep through Latin America has raised international alarm because of links to health problems that were previously undetected. A serious birth defect called microcephaly has been found in babies of women who developed Zika during pregnancy, and a possible connection to Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome, also is being investigated.
While few cases of Zika virus have been reported so far in the United States, the potential for an outbreak here is a concern that public health officials are addressing on multiple fronts. Stony Brook University Hospital has established a working group of clinical, scientific, administrative, and communications staff to address and manage this potential challenge in a timely, coordinated manner. This working group is in close contact with public health officials, and will share important information as more is learned about the virus.
Please use the links on this page to learn more about Zika virus and our response. As always in our role as the region’s premier academic medical center, we will continue to provide updates and support to patients, health care providers and the public.
Joseph H. Laver, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Stony Brook Medicine