How worried should you be about Zika in Columbus?

Zika What?

The Zika virus was discovered 50 years ago in monkeys living in Uganda’s Zika forest. The first humans infected with Zika, which is a mosquito-borne disease, were reported in 1952. Several outbreaks since that time have occurred in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, but in the past few months we have seen the virus become an epidemic and has recently been found in Miami, Florida. There have been 69 cases reported in Georgia, but the virus was acquired out of the country in each case. No locally acquired cases have been reported in Georgia yet, but certain areas of Florida

The World Health Organization has designated the Zika virus as “a public health emergency of international concern,” and have estimated that up to 4 million people could be infected by year’s end. Since May of this year, at least 60 countries have reported local Zika transmissions. The virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected person and then goes on to bite someone else who then becomes infected, so mosquito repellent should be used when outdoors. The Zika virus can also be spread through sexual contact. There have not been any reports of the virus being spread by blood transfusion or organ donation, though it could occur.

Is Zika Dangerous?

Scientists have proven a direct link between the Zika virus and severe brain birth defects in babies, primarily a birth defect called microcephaly. In microcephaly, an infant’s head is smaller than normal. The defect can range from mild to severe and can have the following problems: seizures, developmental delay, intellectual disability, problems with movement/balance, feeding problems, hearing loss, and vision problems. Babies born with these defects often die or become permanently disabled, requiring a lifetime of expensive care. In short, this virus is an expectant parent’s worst nightmare. Additionally, the Zika virus can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in a small portion of infected people. Guillain-Barré affects the nervous system, causing a person’s own immune system to attack and damage nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and, sometimes, paralysis.

What are the symptoms?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there may be no symptoms, or only mild symptoms in most infected people. The most common symptoms, which can last for several days to a week, are: fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eye), muscle pain, and headache. Because of these mild symptoms, the people who should be most concerned about Zika are those

who are pregnant or are trying to

become pregnant. This includes men as well, as the virus can be transmitted sexually. While there isn’t a vaccine yet for the Zika virus, if you get it, you will probably only get it once. A urine or blood test can detect the virus. The CDC also advises that “effective contraception in women and their partners who want to delay or prevent pregnancy is a key prevention strategy for Zika.”

What is being done?

The CDC and other health organizations are educating healthcare professionals and the public on the Zika virus, while they work on finding a vaccine. State and local governments are concentrating on mosquito control to prevent and/or diminish the threat of the virus. Citizens are encouraged to help with this effort by eliminating or treating standing water to kill mosquito larvae. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is currently developing multiple vaccine candidates to prevent Zika virus infection.

Art by Noah Sachs, Image from wikicommons