The World Health Organization has declared Zika Virus Disease as a global public health emergency.
The major threat of the Zika virus is to a pregnant woman
and her unborn child.
If a mother to be is infected with the Zika virus during her pregnancy, her unborn child becomes infected with that virus. The threat to the child is being born with birth
defects linked to the Zika virus. Zika virus disease reportedly carried by mosquitoes has been linked to thousands of babies, having been born with underdeveloped brain
Neither a vaccine nor prophylactic medications are available
to prevent the Zika virus infection as of this date.
What is Zika virus?
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne single-stranded RNA virus.
Symthoms:
fever, rash, joint pain, and red eye are said to be the most
common symptoms.
How is Zika virus transmitted?
The spread of Zika virus can be transmitted through sexual
contact. (New Update )
This information is based on the fact that a person living in
the United States has been infected with the Zika Virus Disease through sexual
contact with another person, after that individual returned from another
country.
The Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily from the
bite of a mosquito after it has bitten an infected person who has the Zika
Virus: When that same mosquito bites a human being, the Zika virus from the
mosquito enters into that person’s blood. This person is now infected with Zika
virus. It is fair to say that if this infected person is bitten by non-
infected mosquitoes or other insects, this virus is passed on and
transmitted to other human beings through bites and skin penetration from these Zika infected
species. And now has been discovered to be transmitted from human to human through sexual contact.
This is the information from those who has been following
the cases, of those who have been infected by the Zika virus. At this particular time, some are saying, there is very little
information they can give on this virus.
“Zika virus is
transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species
mosquito. Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and feed both indoors
and outdoors. Zika virus can be
transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus during pregnancy or around the
time of birth. We do not know how often Zika perinatal transmission occurs. In
the Americas, Zika virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti, but Aedes
albopictus mosquitoes can also transmit the virus.”
Here is some helpful information Provided:
CDC recommends that all pregnant women consider postponing
travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing (10). If a pregnant
woman travels to an area with Zika virus transmission, she should be advised to
strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites (11,12). Mosquitoes that spread
Zika virus bite both indoors and outdoors, mostly during the daytime;
therefore, it is important to ensure protection from mosquitoes throughout the
entire day (13). Mosquito prevention strategies include wearing long-sleeved
shirts and long pants, using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)–registered insect repellents, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear,
and staying and sleeping in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms. When used as
directed on the product label, insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin,
and IR3535 are safe for pregnant women (14,15). Further guidelines for using
insect repellents are available online
(http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites) (11,15).
written by Ellen J. Barrier
