A Short Overview of The Zika Virus

Introduction to Zika Virus

Zika is a virus transmitted through mosquito bites. The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil in May 2015. Since then, the virus has spread to Africa and parts of Asia. Zika is new to the Western Hemisphere, rapidly spreading throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Since its emergence, 1.5 million people have been reported infected in Brazil. In the U.S., there have been many travel-related cases: 625 cases in New York, 510 in Florida, and 152 cases in California (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).

Health Effects and Precautions

Zika doesn’t just have immediate effects but also has long-term health implications. The virus causes a disease in unborn and born infants called Microcephaly, which results in children being born with abnormally small heads and often deformed brains (World Health Organization, 2016). The U.S. is advising pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas where the virus is prevalent. In El Salvador, women were asked to wait until 2018 to become pregnant.

Sexual transmission has also been reported in 10 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. In all known cases, transmission has been from a man to a woman or to another man, not from a woman to anyone else. In at least one case, a man who never had Zika symptoms transmitted it sexually. Health authorities recommend that men who have had no symptoms should wait eight weeks before engaging in unprotected sex (Pan American Health Organization, 2016).

Fatalities and Complications

Zika is almost never fatal, but it has been known to cause death in rare cases. The virus killed a man in Puerto Rico, marking the first reported U.S. death from the virus. The man, in his 70s, suffered from a rare complication called immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Another patient, who died in Utah, had a Zika virus infection that contributed to her death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).

Current Measures and Recommendations

There is currently no vaccine against the Zika virus. Efforts to develop one have just begun, and creating and testing a vaccine normally takes years and costs hundreds of millions of dollars. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend any specific antiviral medication for people infected with the Zika virus. The symptoms are mild—when they appear at all—and usually require only rest, nourishment, and other supportive care (World Health Organization, 2016).

Travelers to affected countries are advised to avoid or minimize mosquito bites by staying in screened or air-conditioned rooms or sleeping under mosquito nets; wearing insect repellent at all times; and wearing long pants, long sleeves, shoes, and hats. These preventive measures are crucial in controlling the spread of the virus and protecting individuals from infection (Pan American Health Organization, 2016).

Conclusion

As the Zika virus continues to spread, global health organizations and governments are working diligently to manage and contain the outbreak. Continued research and public awareness are essential in mitigating the impact of this virus on affected populations. The development of a vaccine remains a priority, but until then, preventive measures and public health advisories play a crucial role in safeguarding communities.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Zika virus. Retrieved from [CDC website URL]

Pan American Health Organization. (2016). Epidemiological alert: Zika virus infection. Retrieved from [PAHO website URL]

World Health Organization. (2016). Zika virus and complications: Questions and answers. Retrieved from [WHO website URL]