One million cases of ZIKV infections worldwide: FIRE-EARTH Models
FIRE-EARTH Models show more than one million incidences of ZIKV infections may have occurred worldwide since October 2015.
Link to Microcephaly
Researchers suspect a possible link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, a severe birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
Microcephaly can occur as a result of changes in babies genes, as well as other causes that can include the following exposures during pregnancy:
- Infections, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, or cytomegalovirus
- Severe malnutrition
- Exposure to harmful substances, such as alcohol, certain drugs, or toxic chemicals
Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly. Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking systems have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.
Latest Health Warnings
Authorities in four countries—Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica—have warned women to avoid pregnancy as cases of microcephaly, believed to be caused by Zika virus (ZIKV), continue to multiply.
Brazil. Authorities say the number of babies born with suspected microcephaly has now reached about 4,000 since October, 2015.
Colombia. Health Minister has urged women to delay pregnancies for about eight months.
Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica. Authorities have told women to delay pregnancies by up to two years.
U.S. Last week, explosive outbreaks of ZIKV, a dangerous tropical disease linked to birth defects, prompted the U.S. health officials to issue a travel alert for people traveling to regions and countries where the virus transmission is spreading: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission
AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.
AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.
OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.
[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people. These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such a; s dengue virus.]
Ae. aegypti Mosquitoes: The Principal Vectors of ZIKV
Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the principal vectors of dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4), chikungunya (CHIKV), yellow fever (YFV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. Of these seven arboviruses, DENV, YFV and CHIKV have caused outbreaks within the United States and its territories in the past 110 years.
With a newly-obtained fiery red blood meal visible through her transparent abdomen, the now heavy female Aedes aegypti mosquito took flight as she left her host’s skin surface. Photo Credit: James Gathany/ CDC
Approximate distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in the United States. -CDC-
ZIKV in Brief [CDC]
Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
Outbreaks of Zika have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will spread to new countries. In December 2015, Puerto Rico reported its first confirmed Zika virus case. Locally transmitted Zika has not been reported elsewhere in the United States, but cases of Zika have been reported in returning travelers.
There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Travelers can protect themselves from this disease by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites. When traveling to countries where Zika virus (see map) or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.
Related Links
ZIKV
- CDC Issues Travel Warning as Zika Virus Epidemic Continues to Spread January 16, 2016
- Zika Virus: Coming to a Place Near You… January 5, 2016
- Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015 Posted on December 25, 2015
- Most Dangerous Pathogens December 12, 2015
- ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects December 4, 2015
DENGUE
- Latest Dengue Fever Outbreaks January 20, 2016
- Top Emerging Diseases Likely to Cause Major Epidemics December 12, 2015
- ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects December 4, 2015
- Dengue Fever Kills 204 in Taiwan December 16, 2015
- State of Emergency Declared in East Java January 26, 2015
- Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City January 21, 2013
- State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals October 29, 2011
- Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash September 19, 2009
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