Zika Virus – A New Mosquito-Borne Disease in the West

The spread of Zika virus, an arbovirus or mosquito-borne virus infection to the West has been highlighted in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

International travel and overcrowding are some of the reasons that have resulted in the appearance of four mosquito-borne diseases in the Western world in the last 20 years. After dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus, the latest entrant is the Zika virus, with the first cases reported in Brazil and Puerto Rico in May and December 2015, respectively.

The First Complete Genome Sequence of the Zika Virus
Given the very rapid spread of the Zika virus, the Institut Pasteur in French Guiana remains actively involved in epidemiological monitoring.

‘Zika virus disease is a newly emerged mosquito-borne disease that has similar clinical signs to dengue, and may be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.’

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Several similarities have been observed between zika virus and the other viral infections. It has been noted that Zika infections occur in areas that have recently been plagued by chikungunya infection. Like yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya infections, Zika also spreads through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito breeds in fresh stored water in homes, and bites during the daytime.

Zika usually causes a mild disease with symptoms similar to dengue. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, rash, joint pains and conjunctivitis or sore eyes. However, several people with Zika have suffered from a neurological problem called Guillain–Barré syndrome, which could possibly be a complication of Zika. There is also a concern that, unlike the other viral infections, Zika may cause birth defects– in Brazil, several babies have been born with small heads since the appearance of the infection last year.

Diagnosis of Zika is made on clinical basis, but it may be confused with dengue or chikungunya due to similar symptoms. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test may be used to differentiate it from other viral infections. This test is however currently available only in certain centers.

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The Zika virus is endemic in West Africa. The Jamaican government is working on a public education campaign to raise awareness about the virus.

Similar to other viral infections like dengue and chikungunya, treatment of Zika is currently non-specific, with bed rest and supportive care. Unlike dengue, Zika is not known to cause bleeding. However, to be on the safe side, medications like aspirin have to be avoided till dengue has been ruled out. A vaccine to prevent Zika is not available, and even if developed, its clinical utility in vaccinating large populations will have to be established.

Pregnant Women Must Avoid Traveling to Zika Virus-Epidemic Countries: CDC
In pregnant women, Zika virus can spread to the fetus and damage the brain tissue resulting in smaller brain sizes, birth defects or death.

Though currently there is no specific drug for the treatment of Zika infection, experts feel that it would be more useful to develop antiviral drugs that will be effective against more than one viral infections, rather than trying to develop one drug against each viral infection.

Untill no specific treatment is available, prevention forms an important aspect in the management of viral mosquito-borne diseases. Prevention of Zika and other mosquito-borne viral infections involves preventing mosquito bites by using mosquito screens, insect repellents and cleaning up of mosquito-breeding sites. The last step may not always be possible in crowded places with poor sanitation where, unfortunately, the infection is commonly noted.

United States Reports the First Case of Zika-Linked Brain Damage in Hawaii
US has reported its first case of a newborn suffering from brain damage linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus that has caused birth defects in Latin America.

Reference:

Fauci AS and Morens DM. Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat January 13, 2016 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1600297

www.cdc.gov

Source-Medindia