Zika virus ; infection, symptom and treatment

Dr. Dheeraj kumarJR 1,MEDICINE DEPARTMENT

( Dr. V.ACHARI UNIT)PMCH,PATNA

• Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus

• transmitted by daytime active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. Aegypti

• Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947

HISTORY OF ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION • 1947: Scientists were conducting routine surveillance for yellow fever in the Zika

forest of Uganda isolated the Zika virus in samples taken from rhesus monkey.

• 1948: The virus recovered from the mosquito Aedes africanus.

• 1952: The first human case detected in Uganda.

• 1964: A researcher in Uganda fell ill while working with Zika strains , provided first proof that Zika virus can manifest as human disease. A pink non-itchy rash lasting 5 days eventually covered most of his skin, he reported his illness as “mild”, as he did not experience the “crippling bone pain” associated with dengue and chikungunya infections.

• 2007: Zika spread from Africa and Asia to cause the first large outbreak in humans on the Pacific island of Yap. Prior to this event, no outbreaks and only 14 cases of human Zika virus disease had been documented worldwide.

• Then, in October 2013, an outbreak began in French Polynesia; around 10,000 cases were reported, less than 100 of which presented with severe neurological or autoimmune complications

ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION IN PRESENT DAY

30 January 2016: first PCR confirmed case of locally acquired Zika.

1 February 2016: WHO declared recent association of Zika infection with clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

2 February 2016: Chile reports its first three PCR confirmed cases of Zika virus . The United States reports a case of sexual transmission of Zika infection in Texas.

4 February 2016: Brazilian health officials confirm a case of Zika virus infection transmitted by transfused blood from an infected donor.

7 February 2016: Suriname reports an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome, beginning in 2015, with 10 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome positive for Zika (PCR test on urine sample)

Zika has no DNA. It’s a single strand RNA virus roughly 10.8kb in size which never goes through a DNA phase when replicating, nor does it enter the cellular nucleus where the mosquito genome is located.

• Zika virus is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses.

• The illness it causes is similar to a mild form of dengue fever

These symptoms last for 2-7 days..

Infection with Zika virus may be suspected based on symptoms and recent history (e.g. residence or travel to an area where Zika virus is known to be present).Zika virus diagnosis can only be confirmed by laboratory testing for the presence of virus RNA in the blood or other body fluids, such as urine or saliva.

Diagnosis

Prevention

Reduce mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors; and sleeping under mosquito nets.

It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out.

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires No special treatment.

Patients should 1. Take Plenty of rest, drink enough fluids

2. Treatment of pain and fever with common medicines.

3. If symptoms worsen, they should take medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available

Treatment

The recent spread of the virus has been described as “explosive”; Zika has now been detected in 25 countries and territories. The rising concern over both the number of cases and reports of serious complications has led the most affected areas in Brazil to declare a state of emergency

ONGOING RESEARCH • Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech said on

Wednesday it was working on two possible vaccines to fight the VIRUS.

• The virus is spreading rapidly in the Americas, and WHO officials on Tuesday expressed concern that it could hit Africa and Asia as well. No vaccine has been developed so far.

• One of the possible vaccines is "recombinant", which means it is created by genetic engineering, while the other was "inactivated", and will enter pre-clinical trials in animals in two weeks, ….

THANK U