Birth defects linked to Zika virus still rising in Brazil

President Dilma Rousseff says Brazil is trying to develop vaccine against the Zika and dengue viruses.

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions.

The Zika virus’ impact on unborn babies remains somewhat of a mystery.

The Hawaii State Health Department last week announced that a baby born in an Oahu hospital with microcephaly tested positive for a past Zika infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a strong warning for people traveling to 14 countries where the Zika virus has been found.

But for pregnant women, the virus can be transmitted to the fetus, triggering brain damage like microcephaly in which the brain and skull are abnormally small.

“If a person does come back with mild symptoms acute fever, a rash, joint pains, muscle aches or [red eyes], I would recommend they go see there physician”, said Peterson.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). It does not spread person to person, and the symptoms usually don’t last more than a week, according to the CDC. The connection to Zika is still being investigated, and health officials note there are many causes of the condition, including genetics, and exposure during pregnancy to alcohol and certain germs and toxic chemicals. The case was confirmed by polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) (viral genome detection). Dengue can cause high fever, headache, nausea and other symptoms. Prevention and control relies on reducing the breeding of mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, space spraying of insecticides may be carried out following the technical orientation provided by World Health Organization to kill flying mosquitoes.

Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Suitable insecticides (recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme) may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers, when this is technically indicated.

“Pregnant women should be advised that they may not want to travel to areas with ongoing transmission, but if they do, they should take measures to avoid mosquito bites”, she said.