In just a few weeks , the Zika computer virus has gone from proportional reconditeness to a major concern of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , and other giants in global disease mastery . What ’s bump with Zika , and why has it explode now ?
1. WHAT IS ZIKA VIRUS?
Zika is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes . It ’s in the same mob as several other mosquito - acquit viruses that also can cause human disease , including yellow febrility , dengue , and chikungunya . There is no intervention or vaccinum available .
2. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION?
Most people who are infect with Zika computer virus do n’t even get laid it ; as many as80 percent of the casesare asymptomatic . For those who do show symptom , fever , head ache , rash , and joint and muscle aches are the most common signs of infection .
3. HOW DOES THE VIRUS SPREAD?
Zika is anarbovirus — a virus that is “ arthropod - borne . ” It is transmitted by mosquito — most commonly a mosquito calledAedes aegypti . This mosquito lives primarily in tropical areas of the world , including parts of the United States . A. aegyptiis well - adapted to live with humans , laying eggs in dead piddle that can be find around homes — old tires , bird baths , buttocks , or slew . They feed almost exclusively on humans and can be day - biters , so some interventions to keep mosquitoes by , such as bottom nets , are n’t as helpful . They also travel well and can spread via boat or potentially airplanes that move around the world .
WhileA. aegpytiis the primary vector for Zika , there is worry that other mosquito may be able to communicate the virus . Another invading mosquito , the Asian Panthera tigris mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) is a vulgar disease vector . It can spread virus related to Zika , and was the primary vector of a largeChikungunya eruption in 2006 . This mosquito also was involve in aZika outbreak in Gabonin 2007 , but that was a unlike strain of Zika than the one currently circulating in the Americas . Researchers in Brazil are also testing the possibleness that another mosquitospecies of theCulexfamily could spread Zika . WhileA. aegyptiis geographically limited , A. albopictusand various metal money ofCulexmosquitoes are more wide distribute , living in cold clime .
Human - to - human transmission is also theoretically potential . There are two reports of Zika virus transmissionvia sex activity . One report involved anAmerican who had concentrate Zika in Senegaland recrudesce symptoms upon his return to Colorado , and whose wife develop Zika infection after picture . A second case found Zika computer virus in thesemen of a man in Tahitilong after the virus had been clear from the blood . However , even if this is possible , it seems to be a rare mood of transmission .
4. WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
We’veknown about Zikasince 1947 , when it was discovered in a monkey in the Zika timberland in Uganda . A year later , the computer virus was found in a mosquito in the same locating , and blood line sample from humans showed antibodies to Zika , evidence they had antecedently been infected with the computer virus . The first documented human guinea pig was key in Nigeria in 1968 . bloodline testing in the 1950s and sixties showed transmission with the virus was widespread in humans across Africa and many parts of Asia . The first eruption of Zika outside of Africa or Asia was on Yap Island in 2007 , infect almost75 pct of the island ’s populationof 6900 the great unwashed . A second outbreak inFrench Polynesia in 2013–2014may have infect as many as 19,000 multitude .
5. HOW WIDESPREAD IS IT?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Zika first appeared in Brazil in mid-2015 , possibly usher in from Gallic Polynesia during 2014 ’s World Cup soccer tourney orother international sporting events . Active infection of the computer virus has been confirmedin 22 countriesas of January 28 . Many of them are popular travel destinations .
Because they are tourist spots , individuals taint during travel have return home , incubating the virus . traveling - associated cases have been diagnosed inDenmark , Spain , Portugal , Italy , and theUnited Kingdom . The United States has seenapproximately a 12 casesof import Zika infection . No local spreadhead has been documented in these countries . The WHO has suggested the outbreak could finally affectup to 4 million mass ; approximately 1 million have already been infected .
6. WHY IS THIS OUTBREAK SO SERIOUS?
First , the outbreaks are very large and have infect large proportions of the population where they ’ve occurred . Because this computer virus has never been key out in this geographical location before , the universe has no immunity to it — meaning everyone is vulnerable .
In Brazil , there has been an increment in reports of microcephaly in babies . This mean that the babies are born with an abnormally minor head , and problem with Einstein development . This has been linked to Zika computer virus infection in the female parent during pregnancy ; almost4000 babieshave been diagnose with the condition since October 2015 . A baby born in Hawaii to a female parent who had been taint with Zika was alsoborn with microcephaly . As a aftermath , the CDC has issue interim guidelines fortravel during gestation , suggesting that pregnant women do not locomote to area experiencing a Zika outbreak . Other countries have outbreaks have suggestedthat womendelay pregnancyfor months or eld , until the outbreak subside — adifficult propositionin an area where many pregnancies are unintentional and approach to birth control is modified .
addition in another neurological condition , Guillain - Barré syndrome , has also beenreported in Colombia , and that is thought to be due to Zika virus infections . Though microcephaly has not been cover in affiliation with previous Zika outbreaks , Guillain - Barré syndrome was identifiedin the 2013 outbreak in Gallic Polynesia .
7. WHATDON’TWE KNOW ABOUT ZIKA?
A portion . Right now , there appear to be a correlation coefficient between microcephaly and Zika infection , but we ca n’t be 100 per centum sure that Zika is causing it — or that therereally is an increase in microcephaly casesat all . If Zika is indeed make microcephaly ( and/or Guillain - Barré syndrome ) , we have no idea how the virus is doing this . adopt the virus is responsible , we do n’t know if infection needs to be in a sure developmental window during the pregnancy , or if the contagion would have to be diagnostic in gild for microcephaly to result . We have no vaccinum or treatment for Zika , though the outbreak hasspurred interestin educate them . For now , mastery elbow grease are concentrated on mosquito elimination and education of the population about the likely risks of infection .
