Good morning! We’re covering today a groundbreaking way of testing for the Zika virus—which scared the world in 2016 and 2017. Plus, Jair Bolsonaro’s latest strategy to foster economic growth. And the rising tensions around the Supreme Court. (This newsletter is for platinum subscribers only. Become one now!)
Brazilians develop state-of-the-art Zika test
Researchers at the University of São Paulo developed a test to improve diagnoses of the Zika virus. Until now, the main obstacle for properly diagnosing the mosquito-borne disease is its genetic resemblance with dengue fever. The new test, however, enhances precision from 75 to 92 percent—virtually eliminating false positives or false negatives.
Why it matters. The Zika virus is considered by the World Health Organization as an ongoing threat, after declaring a global emergency in 2016. At the time, the virus had spread to 84 countries—almost every nation in the Western hemisphere, except Canada.
Patent. The researchers have patented their invention and are in the process of obtaining a commercial license. The test has been validated in over 3,000 patients, the majority of them female.
Health issues. Zika infections in pregnant women are linked to birth brain defects. Between 2010 and 2017, Brazil registered a 7-percent rise...