The Zika virus.

The Zika virus.
    Zika infection transmitted virus the mosquitoes of the genus Aedes' in tropical areas of Africa, Asia and America. Often it goes unnoticed and, when symptoms are mild and resolve without sequelae.
What is it and how the Zika virus spread?
The Zika virus, also known by the acronym ZIKV is a flavivirus family of Flaviviridae which is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Since the 50 cases have been reported in tropical Africa, but since 2007 has been extended to the Pacific, Southeast Asia and, since 2015, to Brazil.To date not been reported any case in Europe, although it is possible that some traveler who has visited the affected areas have suffered from the infection without being diagnosed.Only 20-25% of those infected with the virus have symptoms that are mild (not very high fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, rash) and disappear on their own.It is with general measures similar to those used in the treatment of a common cold: rest, paracetamol, and many liquids. It has not been described to date no mortal by Zika virus case.It can prevent infection by Zika virus taking the usual precautions against mosquito bites when traveling to areas with presence described of transmission: mosquito repellent, mosquito nets and wear clothes with long sleeves and long pants.

How the infection is transmitted by the Zika virus?
The Zika virus was first found in 1947 in Africa, Zika forest in Uganda, in a population of macaques, and was first isolated in humans in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania. Outbreaks have been reported Zika especially in tropical areas of Africa. In 2007 the first cases outside Africa in the Yap state of Micronesia.Later, there were more outbreaks between 2013 and 2014 in the Pacific Islands, and in May 2015 began to appear cases in tropical areas of Brazil, after which has spread to many countries of Latin America and Central. WHO forecast is spread throughout the Americas except Canada and Chile. In addition, there are cases in European countries travelers Zika virus infection.The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes Aedes genus, so also included within the Arbovirus, which generally includes all viruses transmitted by arthropods (insects, arachnids ... is an acronym for arthropod-borne viruses) .Guests include monkeys and humans. When the infected mosquito bites a person, the virus first infects cells (specifically, dendritic) near the site of inoculation; then it spreads to the lymph nodes and blood. The virus replicates in cells in the cytoplasm, but have also been found virus components within the nucleus of cells.Typically, the virus is maintained in a sylvan cycle affecting nonhuman primates and different types of Aedes mosquitoes, both forest areas and residential areas. In Asia the main transmission vector is Aedes aegypti. Other types of carriers Aedes mosquitoes and virus transmitters are Aedes albopictus hensilii or Aedes.In Europe there are populations of Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito) and Aedes aegypti (although in very limited areas of the Black and Madeira Sea), so hypothetically could possibly have imported cases of infected Zika virus, which could be bitten by European local mosquitoes in summer period, and that they could transmit the disease. However, so far there have been no reported cases of Zika virus disease in Europe -except as we say, imported- cases.In addition to transmission through the bite of mosquitoes in tropical areas with the virus, transplacental or perinatal transmission during delivery could result if the mother is infected and the virus is present in the blood at that time.The transmission of infection through blood transfusions could be theoretically possible. In Zika outbreak that occurred in French Polynesia between November 2013 and February 2014 Zika virus was found in the blood of 3% of the donors tested, even when asymptomatic.Finally, in 2011 a possible case of sexual transmission of the virus Zika described. In another patient it came to isolate the virus in semen as two weeks after recovering from the symptoms of the infection. In the current outbreak in South America there are also some cases more than probable sexual transmission.The last three possible modes of transmission are very rare. Typically, the infection is acquired by the bite of an infected mosquito in some tropical areas of Africa, Asia, Pacific and Brazil.


These are the symptoms of Zika virus infection.
Only one out of four or five people infected with the virus Zika Zika develops the disease. That is, 75-80% of those infected do not become aware of infection to not develop symptoms.In cases where the disease develops, this appears after an incubation period of between 3 and 12 days. Symptoms are usually mild and short duration, between 2 and 7 days. Often you not get to know the etiologic diagnosis, or considered as dengue or chikungunya.The symptom of infection is most common Zika fever virus, which does not become very high, usually below 38.5 ° C, and can be accompanied by joint pain with mild inflammation of joints, especially of the hands and feet. You may see a maculopapular eruption, ie, red spots that may be slightly on high, and they do not bite. The rash usually begins on the face and then spread to the rest of the body.Another common symptom in patients affected is the red eye, or conjunctivitis in both eyes, but without the presence of pus. Some infected have vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Additionally, general symptoms as muscle pain, general fatigue and headache are described, sometimes behind the eyes.
These are the complications of Zika virus microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Zika outbreak in French Polynesia cases of autoimmune neurological symptoms were described after spending illness compatible with Zika virus.Specifically, several people from Guillain-Barre syndrome (a neurological autoimmune type of disorder in which muscle weakness that can last for many months but with proper treatment usually recover in almost every case appears) were diagnosed.In the current outbreak of Zika in Brazil have been described new cases of neurological and autoimmune complications, but the fact that most cases are asymptomatic difficult to perform a real estimate of the risk, which in any case appears to remain low . Most worrisome is that there is an alarming increase in cases of microcephaly in newborns in northeastern Brazil and some other American region, which has been linked to pregnant women who have passed the infection during pregnancy. In some countries of the American continent it is even recommending that women living in areas with circulation Zika not become pregnant yet. In addition, it should assess the risk of pregnant travelers to areas with Zika circulation.Despite what has been said, it is still rare for the disease by the Zika virus requiring hospitalization for their severity. Only following the last outbreak described a case of death possibly caused by Zika, especially in babies born with microcephaly. Anyway, being an evolving epidemic, their characteristics may be changing over time. Therefore, all national and supranational health organizations have extreme their epidemiological surveillance measures.


This is the diagnosis of infection Zika virus.
Most cases of Zika virus infection are asymptomatic, so not come to diagnose. In cases where symptoms occur, they are nonspecific and may be confused with dengue or chikungunya, diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes also in the same areas where the Zika virus is transmitted.Virus diagnosis can be performed by PCR detection of genetic material (RNA) virus during the viremic, ie, when the virus in blood. These occur in the first 3-5 days of symptomatic period of the disease. You can also test for the presence of genetic material of the virus in saliva or urine, where it can remain for more days, even after the resolution of symptoms.You can also detect antibodies to Zika virus in blood, from the 5th or 6th day of symptomatic disease. However, these antibodies may give a false positive people who have gone another flavivirus infection as dengue. On the other hand, there are to date commercial kits for routine diagnostic use Zika virus.In any case, the diagnosis of Zika virus has more epidemiological and description of its geographical distribution for the treatment of a particular patient, since in addition obtained results take 4-14 days interest. In addition, these tests are performed only in specialized reference.Treatment and prevention of infection Zika virus.
There is no specific treatment for Zika virus infection. Treatment is symptomatic. relative rest is recommended according to the general condition of the patient, and it is advisable to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration from fever. You can take acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever. It would be desirable to avoid aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to have ruled out the possibility that the case of dengue, to avoid a possible risk of bleeding in that case.
Prevention of infection Zika virus.
There is no vaccine at present to prevent infection Zika virus. The most effective way to prevent infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Because the virus is transmitted in areas with presence of other mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria or dengue, protective measures against mosquito bites possible to prevent many tropical diseases transmitted by this route.To avoid mosquito bites the following measures are recommended:Use mosquito repellents. Keep in mind that mosquitoes that transmit virus Zika bite during the day or evening, so you have to use repellent constantly.If sunscreen is used, apply first guard and then the repellent.There clothes already prepared with permethrin treatment, or can be treated clothes themselves. There are mosquitoes that bite through clothing, although with more difficulty than on bare skin, so it is advisable to wear long sleeves and legs to optimize protection against mosquitoes if time permits.the use of mosquito nets on doors and windows is recommended, and sleep in a bed that is also available mosquito net.It is convenient not to have fresh water in pots or similar on the inside to avoid attracting mosquitoes.If a person is infected by the virus Zika, it is advisable to protect against mosquito bites to prevent transmit it to others.It is convenient to use condoms for 28 days if it becomes zone Zika if they have not had symptoms, and up to 6 months if they have symptoms and confirmed infection in a laboratory test, and prevent transmission through saliva ( intimate) kissing.