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Johns Hopkins, Wilmer Eye Institute open care center for Zika virus
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Johns Hopkins Medicine announced the opening of the Johns Hopkins Zika Center, led by the Wilmer Eye Institute, according to a press release.
“Our goal is to care not only for children but also for the whole family and patients of all ages with Zika virus,” William N. May, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, said in the release. “Patients will be able to see physicians and staff members from various areas of expertise within our institution, including our school of public health. This breadth gives us the ability to diagnose, treat and help prevent further proliferation of disease.”
According to recent studies, Zika virus is reported to cause eye abnormalities in more than half of infected babies.
The Johns Hopkins Zika Center will care for patients of all ages with Zika virus infection, May said. The Baltimore-based center also will focus on Zika diagnosis, treatment, long-term effects and new approaches to prevention and treatment. The Zika Center will utilize staff members from the department of cellular engineering, including Hongjun Song, PhD, and Guo-li Ming, MD, PhD, whose work has defined the causal relationship between Zika and neurologic disease. It will include staff members from the departments of epidemiology, infectious diseases, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology and neurosciences, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, physiotherapy, psychiatry, psychology and social work. Adults and children worldwide can be referred to the center by outside physicians, or patients can call the Wilmer Eye Institute to schedule an appointment.
“We know there are other interdisciplinary centers in the nation helping children and their mothers,” May said. “Our No. 1 priority will be focused on our patients, but our hope is that our work will also lead to many new developments in the effort to fight this potentially devastating disease.” – by Will Offit
Disclosure: May is employed by Johns Hopkins Medicine.