Zika virus: what it is and whether it is necessary to worry

Zika virus: what it is and whether it is necessary to worry – Zika virus, which until recently was exotic disease rarely strikes people of Africa and some island states, announced a global threat. His influence is associated with microcephaly children. We live far away from South Africa, but the reality is that people who travel a lot and disease. We will understand what to fear and how to behave.

Zika virus: Why you need to worry

If a pregnant woman suffered Zika virus, it increases the risk of birth of a child with a brain injury. From the virus is no vaccine, no specific drug, and no ability to protect the child from its impact. The only good news is that the virus and its complications are rare.

Zika virus in 20% of cases manifested fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis. Most of the cases finished with a slight rise in temperature, or does not feel symptoms. All are signs of the disease for two days, maximum a week.

Zika virus belongs to the genus flavivirus, is a relative of the yellow fever and dengue fever. All these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Until recently, the Zika virus did not pay much attention. It was rare, was not associated with serious diseases. But the outbreak of disease in Brazil in 2015 found a link between the virus and microcephaly in newborns.

Even Rospotrebnadzor recommended for pregnant women to refrain from traveling to countries where the virus is widespread.
Similarly, the connection between Zika virus and microcephaly is not proven, but it is very likely. The virus recently reached Brazil, perhaps in the course of the World Cup in 2014. After that followed the outbreak of cases of microcephaly. The virus can spread even further: Summer Olympics – 2016 will be held in Rio.

The Government of Brazil reported on the 4000 cases of children born with a head circumference less than 33 cm for comparison. Usually a year in the country is found not more than 150 such cases. The figure may be exaggerated: most of the children’s health, despite the small size of the head. Furthermore, some microcephaly caused by other reasons. But even if we ignore these exceptions, everything else points to the harm Zika virus.

Do I have to worry about someone other than pregnancy

Is worried. A possible complication, affecting not only pregnant, – Guillain – Barre . It is a rare disease in which the body’s immune system affects its own nerve cells. As a result, the paralysis may develop. The syndrome is triggered communicable diseases – from the flu to enteritis.

The connection between Zika virus and Guillain – Barre syndrome, as has been said, has not been proved. But in the same Brazilian virus disease bursts Zika and this syndrome coincided in time.

Zika virus can be transmitted sexually and through. The United States has recorded such a case, one of the partners went to the region, where widespread virus and infect others. At least two other similar cases (one occurred in 2007 , another – in 2011. ) point to this possibility. Uive Scott (Scott Weaver), an expert on infectious diseases, so these cases are commented in an interview of The the New York the Times :

“IF I ZIKA VIRUS SYMPTOMS APPEARED, AND MY WIFE AT THE SAME TIME WOULD BE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE AGE, WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, I WAS PROTECTED WOULD FURTHER.”

If sexual transmission exists, it is rarely seen. But this does not mean that you need to dismiss him. So, if you are traveling in dangerous areas, do not forget about protection and home.

There is another important point. Even if you are not planning a child, but can theoretically get pregnant, you need to follow the same precautions as for pregnant women. In other words, before the trip, there and some time after it should be protected with special care and meticulously choose repellents. Is that not enough.

Whether repellents help

Assist. Nothing gives one hundred percent guarantee, but repellents with DEET as part effectively repel mosquitoes. Funds with natural ingredients , too, will work.

DEET when used properly secure, including during pregnancy. In time, renewable security, because in a few hours repellent effect is reduced.

Which regions are dangerous and whether Zika virus comes in Russia

A full list of countries where a visit can be dangerous, cast here . In the list of more than 25 points, including the island states.

Microcephaly Flash reflected on the map below. This is a screenshot of an interactive map , on which you can find detailed information.

For the first time Zika virus was detected in Africa in 1947, but there it is not acquired scope of the epidemic, we found only isolated cases.

Moved mosquito species Aedes aegypti . Identify it can be for small white spots. Insects are active during the day. Not all the regions inhabited by mosquitoes, there are flash diseases, but again there are carriers, then the disease may appear.

In Russia, it is unlikely to take root vectors of disease. These mosquitoes prefer a warmer climate. The only option spread – bring the virus from abroad, from tropical countries.

What is the risk for the unborn child creates a trip to a dangerous region

Small. In the same Brazilian said 4000 cases of microcephaly make up 0.1% of all newborns.

Risk of fetal risk is comparable to that created in the primary CMV infection during pregnancy. And before that, while there was no vaccine against measles, rubella and mumps, rubella it was the main cause of microcephaly. That is the risk of getting the virus from microcephaly Zeke even less than the usual diseases. So even in Brazil, it is difficult to get sick, especially when using repellent. But pregnant yet, it makes sense to postpone the trip.

How do I determine that the child suffered from a virus Zika

Be sure to tell the doctor that you were in a country with a high risk of infection, if you are pregnant. Especially if you have a rash, increased temperature or reddened eyes. Disease symptomatically treated as any viral disease. Pregnant women may require additional tests:

Blood PCR to identify the presence of the virus or antibodies in the serum.
Amniocentesis – taking amniotic fluid for analysis for the presence of virus. But this method alone is conjugate with the risk for pregnancy, so is used as a last resort.
Regular ultrasound every 3-4 weeks, which will allow to monitor the child’s brain development.
The difficulty is this: you can not accurately predict how the test results will affect the chances of birth of the child with microcephaly. The same ultrasound can show the development of the disease on pregnancy up to 24 weeks.

So if you happen to have picked up the virus Zika, then you find yourself in a difficult situation with a lot of unknowns. No one knows what will result in a positive blood test and how the virus will affect the baby.

As Zika virus affects children later

“Microcephaly – a black box,” – wrote the Brazilian journalist Ana Caceres (Ana Caceras). The doctors said that she would not walk, talk. But wrong.

However, in most cases, doctors are right: microcephaly entails serious consequences, the children soon leave this life. And Zika virus is just associated with the most complex cases.

While this is a new discovery, it is difficult to predict what will children born with microcephaly due to a virus. Cytomegalovirus, for example, destroys stem cells in the brain, so that a nerve tissue does not develop adequately. Zika virus can work the same way.

Microcephaly is irreversible, treatment can only be achieved as much as possible the development of such children.

What do all over the world in this regard,

No specific drug and vaccine lots do. Countries make recommendations for travelers and pregnant women are advised not to travel to dangerous places.

In Brazil and El Salvador offered to postpone pregnancy (in El Salvador – until 2018). Not so easy to follow that advice (especially in El Salvador , where contraceptives are expensive, and the most popular method of contraception – sterilization).

The World Health Organization is working on several fronts:

• The development of diagnostics and tests. This is a more important task than to develop a vaccine and treatment. Without quality testing can not say who need treatment and how far the disease has spread.
• Controlling the mosquito population. People need protection to reduce the risk of infection.
• Providing medical assistance to the countries where the epidemic is observed. For example, there are required neurologists and physical therapists to help children with microcephaly.
• WHO does not impose restrictions on visits to countries where the virus is widespread. But some countries are not recommended for pregnant women to visit dangerous areas.

In the near future, the most effective way to fight the virus Zika will disinfestation – control of mosquitoes. This elimination of water bodies with stagnant water, and the use of insecticides, and genetic changes in mosquitoes males (who do not leave offspring), and Wolbachia infected mosquitoes – bacteria that make sterile insects. It sounds scary, but “microcephaly” sounds no better.

Because mosquitoes spread many diseases, hysteria Zika virus can help in the fight with them.

The vaccine is already in development and will probably be tested before the end of the year. White spots in matters of exposure to the virus Zika should be closed in the coming years: the victims are children grow and develop as much as possible, and the doctors will look for the most effective ways of rehabilitation.

So now difficult to say how dangerous the virus. Until this issue is studied, it is better to be safe.

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