ZIKA VIRUS

 

INTRODUCTION

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus, it is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. which bite during the daytime & peak in the early morning and evening time.

HISTORY OF ZIKA

            Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It was later identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. From the 1960s to 1980s, rare sporadic cases of human infections were found across Africa and Asia, typically accompanied by mild illness.

The first recorded outbreak of Zika virus disease was reported from the Island of Yap (Federated States of Micronesia) in 2007. This was followed by a large outbreak of Zika virus infection in French Polynesia in 2013 and other countries and territories in the Pacific. In March 2015, Brazil reported a large outbreak of rash illness, soon identified as Zika virus infection, and in July 2015, found to be associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome.  

In October 2015, Brazil reported an association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly. Outbreaks and evidence of transmission soon appeared throughout the Americas, Africa, and other regions of the world. To date, a total of 86 countries and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-transmitted Zika infection.

 TRANSMISSION

Through mosquito bites

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.

• These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in or near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots, and vases. They prefer to bite people and live indoors and outdoors near people.
• Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue, and Zika bite during the day and night.
• A mosquito gets infected with a virus when it bites an infected person during the period of time when the virus can be found in the person’s blood, typically only through the first week of infection.
• Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. 

FROM MOTHER TO CHILD

• A pregnant woman can pass the Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy. Zika is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. We are studying the full range of other potential health problems that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may cause.
• A pregnant woman already infected with the Zika virus can pass the virus to her fetus during the pregnancy or around the time of birth.
• Zika virus has been found in breast milk. Possible Zika virus infections have been identified in breastfeeding babies, but Zika virus transmission through breast milk has not been confirmed. Additionally, we do not yet know the long-term effects of the Zika virus on young infants infected after birth. Because current evidence suggests that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of the Zika virus spreading through the breast milk, CDC continues to encourage mothers to breastfeed, even if they were infected or lived in or traveled to an area with risk of Zika. CDC continues to study the Zika virus and the ways it can spread and will update recommendations as new information become available.
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THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSION

• To date, there have not been any confirmed blood transfusion transmission cases in the United States.
• There have been multiple reports of possible blood transfusion transmission cases in Brazil.
• During the French Polynesian outbreak, 2.8% of blood donors tested positive for Zika and in previous outbreaks, the virus has been found in blood donors.

SYMPTOMS

Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are

• Fever
• Rash
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
• Muscle pain

PREVENTION

• No vaccine is currently available

The best protection from the Zika  virus is preventing mosquito bites indoors and outdoors, especially from sunrise to sunset when mosquitos are most active.
Such measures include;   

• Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites.

• Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners. Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex. Condoms include male and female condoms.
• Use mosquito repellent in accordance with the instructions indicated on the product label.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers
• Sleeping or resting in screened or air-conditioned rooms
• Using mosquito nets

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