Melissa Lauro

Houston Public Media today reported on a “smart trap” by

that Harris County Mosquito Control has been testing since summer 2016.

The traps will help entomologists to (1) track mosquitoes that are carrying Zika virus or other harmful diseases and (2) collect data for ongoing research.

With such warm and humid conditions, Houston is a favorite environment for all types of mosquito species, including ones that carry and spread the Zika virus and other diseases, such as West Nile virus. That makes it a good place for pilot-testing the trap, part of Project Premonition, which designs automated tasks to assist entomologists in their work.

With 80% to 90% accuracy and growing, the smart trap has an infrared light beam that distinguishes between mosquito species and the trap’s doors close on the ones carrying a virus. “[With] the other traps … you could also find some other creatures or other organisms. The Microsoft trap is programmed to the wing span of the mosquitoes. We know exactly what the temperature was, what was the humidity [was], and what kind of mosquito was in the trap,” said Dr. Mustapha Debboun, with Harris County Public Health in an interview.

Microsoft isn’t setting out to cure Zika or other mosquito-carried diseases, but rather to help detect them and to help prevent spread. Douglas Norris, professor of molecular biology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health, explains: “[The trap] collects a lot of data that normally we don’t get. We can use that to figure out real-world solutions, like that bed nets might work.”

before it causes irreparable harm. Part of prevention, of course, is making sure that patients are educated

. Clinicians and pharmacists have many opportunities to educate patients about the

and other birth defects that are known to result from the infection.

Linn A. Building a better mosquito trap: how a Microsoft research project could help track Zika’s spread. Microsoft News website.

news.microsoft.com/features/building-a-better-mosquito-trap-how-a-microsoft-research-project-could-help-track-zikas-spread/#KdywHMOLtgCAADFP.97

. Published June 21, 2016. Accessed May 22, 2017.

Mayberry E. “Smart” mosquito trap used to prevent spread of Zika and West Nile Virus. Houston Public Media website. houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/05/22/201795/monday-story-smart-mosquito-trap-used-to-prevent-spread-of-zika-and-wet-nile-virus/. Published May 22, 2017. Accessed May 22, 2017.

Articles

Houston Public Media today reported on a â€œsmart trapâ€ by Microsoft that Harris County Mosquito Control has been testing since summer 2016.

Smart Trap Increasingly Accurate in Catching Zika, West Nile Mosquitoes

The West region of the United States is where nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in physician practices earn the highest wages, as reported by FierceHealthcare this week.

Physicians Practice surveyed 10 positions in medical practices across 6 US regions. NPs and PAs in the West average annual salaries of $95,071 and $93,417, respectively—and that’s with 0 to 2 years of experience. In contrast, their counterparts in the Northeast both average around $89,000. NPs and PAs with 0 to 2 years of experience in the South-Central United States average $92,318 and $86,500, respectively; in the Mid-Atlantic, $82,619 and $80,750, respectively; the Plains and Rockies region, $80,833 and $87,215; and the Southeast, $89,186 and $85,889.

included 1082 individuals and is broken down further by state and years of experience.

1.     Finnega J. How staff salaries compare in physician practices. FierceHealthcare website.

fiercehealthcare.com/practices/how-staff-salaries-compare-physician-practices-across-country

. Published May 16, 2017. Accessed May 16, 2017.

2.     Physician Staff Practices. 2017 Staff Salary Survey Results: Regional. Physicians Practice website. physicianspractice.com/staff-salary-survey/2017-staff-salary-survey-results-regional. Published May 15, 2017. Accessed May 16, 2017.

West Is Best for NP and PA Staff Salaries

There are more than 335,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the United States, and now there’s a way for clinicians to nominate their peers for recognition.

is a portal that’s being launched by Point of Care Network this week, May 16-18, at the American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Advanced practitioners will be able to nominate their peers, just as physicians have long been able to do in “Top Doctor” listings.

Moreover, physicians will also be able to nominate NPs and PAs for recognition according to criteria such as clinical achievements and showing empathy when dealing with patients.

"There has never been a better time to recognize Advanced Clinicians for their skills, caring, and positive impact on healthcare in the United States,” said Point of Care Advisory Board Member Robert Blumm, MA, PA-C, DFAAPA, in a press release.

1. Vaidya A. Advanced practitioner network unveils new online recognition platform for NPs, PAs. Becker’s Hospital Review website. beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/advanced-practitioner-network-unveils-new-online-recognition-platform-for-nps-pas.html. Published May 16, 2017. Accessed May 17, 2017.

2. Now over 330,000 nurse practitioners and physician assistants can nominate America’s top NPs and PAs. PRnewswire website. prnewswire.com/news-releases/now-over-330000-nurse-practitioners-and-physician-assistants-can-nominate-americas-top-nps-and-pas-300458023.html. Accessed May 17, 2017.

There are more than 335,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the United States, and now thereâ€™s a way for clinicians to nominate their peers for recognition.

Click Here to Nominate, Recognize Your Fellow NPs and PAs

The results of a recent study from Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, show that Zika virus can be identified by a urine test that does not require administration by a doctor and that delivers results in less than 30 minutes.

The test and study’s developer, urologist Laura Lamb, PhD, sees great promise for identifying not only Zika but also other viruses and infections for which they are now working to develop similar urine-based testing. “Detecting these viruses earlier allows us to provide treatment faster and potentially save lives,” she said in a press release.

The Zika virus can be transmitted from infected mothers to their unborn babies and cause microcephaly and other lifelong birth defects. Dr. Lamb noted, “Couples trying to conceive might not even know they are infected and at risk.” More than 5200 cases of Zika virus have been reported in the United States over the past 2 years, according to the CDC.

As soon as the test completes the research phase and receives additional funding, it is expected to benefit at-risk individuals worldwide.

1. New research finds urine test could detect Zika virus quickly, protect unborn babies. Beaumont Health website.

beaumont.org/health-wellness/news/new-research-finds-urine-test-could-detect-zika-virus-quickly-protect-unborn-babies

2. Urine test could detect Zika virus quickly, protect unborn babies. Science Daily website.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515111837.htm

The results of a recent study from Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, show that Zika virus can be identified by a urine test that does not require administration by a doctor and that delivers results in less than 30 minutes

Melissa Lauro

Articles

Smart Trap Increasingly Accurate in Catching Zika, West Nile Mosquitoes

West Is Best for NP and PA Staff Salaries

Click Here to Nominate, Recognize Your Fellow NPs and PAs

Urine Test Identifies Zika Virus Fast, Could Prevent Birth Defects