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Zika Virus

Historical Data 

  • First originated in the Zika Forest in Uganda (1947)

    • Then spread to:

      • Tropical Africa

      • Southeast Asia

      • Pacific Islands

  • First found in rhesus monkeys, but the first cases of infected humans were documented since 1952

  • At least 14 cases of Zika were documented before 2007, but many cases probably went by undetected

  • World Health Organization declared Zika as a public health emergency on 2/1/2016

  • 312 United States citizens contracted Zika from travelling

  • Of those 312, 27 were women

    • 6 of those women had gotten Zika through sexual transmission, 1 had Guillain-Barré Syndrome

  • So far, there have been only 7 reported cases of Zika in Virginia, all being travel associated

 

Transmission

  • Mosquito Bites:

    • The Zika virus, being a mosquito-borne virus, can only be transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus)

  • Sexual transmission:

    • A man can spread Zika to their sexual partners

    • Zika can last longer in semen than in blood

  • Mother to child:

    • The Zika virus can be passed from mother to child if the mother is infected around the time of delivery

    • It can also be transmitted to the fetus if the mother is pregnant while with Zika

    • As of current reports, breastfeeding does not transmit the Zika virus

 

Symptoms

  • About 1 in 5 people infected with the Zika virus show symptoms

  • Symptoms usually last between 2-7 days

  • Mild fever

  • Skin rashes

  • Conjunctivitis

  • Muscle and joint pain

  • Malaise or headache

 

Zika and Guillain Barre Syndrome

  • An uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, and sometimes, paralysis” (CDC)

  • Cause unknown but not contagious

  • Most recover, some have permanent damage, rare cases of fatality (1 in 20 patients)

  • Bacterial or viral infections associated with GBS

  • French Polynesia: 42 patients reported after start of outbreak which was 20 times more than previous years in the area

  • 98% of the cases tested positive for IgM or IgG (main antibodies that respond to viral infections)

  • Serum neutralisation test (SNT), a process where serum cultured and studied for antibody levels,   confirmed all cases of Zika virus

  • WHO risk assessment: strong connection between Zika and GBS     

  • CDC currently conducting studies with Brazilian Ministry of Health to find connections

Zika Virus Distribution in the United States

Pathogens & Vectors

  • The Zika virus, a single-stranded RNA virus, causes the Zika disease, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes

  • Family: Flaviviridae

  • Genus: Flavivirus

  • Species: Zika virus

  • Vector: Aedes mosquitoes

  • Reservoir: Unknown

     

     

     

     

 

Treatment

  • There are currently no medicines able to treat Zika

  • Ways to treat symptoms:

    • Get plenty of rest

    • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration

    • Take medicine like acetaminophen or paracetamol to lower fever and pain

    • Do NOT take aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) unless it is confirmed you do not have dengue (they can increase bleeding)

    • Talk to your healthcare provider or a medical professional if you are taking other medicines or if symptoms worsen

       

Prevention

  • There is currently a vaccine for Zika in development

  • Avoid traveling to areas with Zika

  • Abstain from sex or use condoms to prevent the possibilities of sexual transmission

  • Take measures to prevent mosquito bites:

    • Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants.

    • Stay in places with air conditioning or window/door screens

    • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents properly

    • Treat ONLY clothing or gear with permethrin

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

Aedes Mosquito Distribution in the United States

Zika Update:

Zika and Microcephaly:

  • The CDC has confirmed that the Zika virus causes microcephaly and other birth defects.

  • Microcephaly is linked to other problems like seizures, developmental delay including trouble with speech or reaching other developmental milestones (like sitting, standing, and walking), intellectual disability, problems with movement and balance, feeding problems (like difficulties swallowing), hearing loss, and vision problems

  • CDC Concludes Zika Causes Microcephaly and Other Birth Defects. (2016, April 13). Retrieved April 14, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0413-zika-microcephaly.html

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Zika and Microcephaly

  • Microcephaly is a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected

  • Initial reports show that 35 brazilian infants were born to women or lived in or traveled to areas with Zika

  • 74% of these mothers had a rash consistent with Zika in the first or second trimester

  • Ocular abnormalities are common among infants

  • All reported cases are in Brazil except for one in Panama

Information gathered by Jennifer L., Sejad C., Khoa T., and You C.
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