ZIKA VIRUS – NOW SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED

The Mosquito has been thrust back into the spotlight this time for resurfacing the fast spreading Zika Virus. This virus is another mosquito borne disease which like Malaria and Yellow Fever is capable of affecting thousands of people in a short space of time.

One becomes infected with the Zika virus when one is bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito. Dr. Oumer Nesredin a Zika Virus Specialist at the Ministry of Health (Botswana) clarifies that, “This is the same type of mosquito that spreads Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow fever.”

He distinguishes between the Zika Virus and Malaria, which are borne of two different types of mosquitoes. “They are both (Zika and Malaria) transmitted by different types of mosquito. They are different biologically and in severity of disease and clinical manifestation, complication, diagnostic method and treatment used.”

According to the doctor the Zika virus is more relatable to Dengue, Yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. “The infection, known as Zika fever, often causes no or only mild symptoms. The illness it causes is similar to a mild form of dengue fever. It is treated by rest, and cannot yet be prevented by drugs or vaccines,” explains the doctor.

The Zika virus is said to transmit from person to person primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species of mosquito. “These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus.”

Zika virus occurs in places and conditions enjoyed by the mosquito such as rainy and wet areas. The specialist explains that, “Zika virus occurs in lands in tropical areas with large mosquito breeding populations, and is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia and Western Pacific.” The name of the virus is said to have been adapted from where it was first ‘isolated’ or discovered in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947.

The expert sheds more on the history of the virus leading to its current occurrence explaining that since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. In 2014 the virus spread eastward across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia, then entered Easter Island. “In 2015 it was found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, where the Zika outbreak has now reached pandemic levels,” states the doctor.

In the Americas the virus has been associated with an increase in babies born with microcephaly (small heads). “There is a possible link between Zika fever and microcephaly in new born babies by mother-to-child transmission, as well as a stronger one with neurologic conditions in infected adults, including cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome,” he says.

He cautions that it is possible for a mother to pass the virus on to a foetus during pregnancy. This mode of transmission is still being investigated. To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika virus through breastfeeding which is still encouraged.

Thus far in the African region the Cape Verde has reported an outbreak of the virus with over 7000 cases since October 2015. “However, the number of cases have declined since December 2015,” adds the ministry official who shares that the ministry is still assessing the risk to Botswana which includes the study of ‘availability and breeding’ of the Aedes mosquito in Botswana and to understand the disease and prepare a response strategy.

“Considering the wide distribution of this type of mosquito, all the countries in the African region are at risk of Zika virus transmission. This risk is potentially increased by the ongoing Zika virus disease outbreaks in other countries in the world.” To add on to this worry the virus is presenting with new symptoms, a new mode of transmission (sexual) and a new complication (microcephaly/small head).

Dr. Nesredin on Zika Virus infection facts
Zika Virus infection presents with a mild fever, rash, headaches, joint and muscle pain and reddish discolouration of the eye. Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache occurring about two to seven days after the mosquito vector bite.

About one in five people infected with Zika virus become ill. The exact incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people.