What should we know about the Zika virus?
Journal Title: JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY & OUTCOMES RESEARCH - Year 2015, Vol 8, Issue 2
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a vector-borne arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family, which also includes dengue, West Nile, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses. It is transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes. Similarly to other flavivirus infections, Zika virus disease, or Zika fever is usually asymptomatic, and only in 20% of cases non-specific symptoms such as mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and arthralgia, may develop. In 2015, an epidemic of ZIKV infection was reported in South and Central America and the Carribbean. It caused major concern because of a possible association between maternal infection and adverse fetal outcomes, such as congenital microcephaly as well as a possible association with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Currently, no vaccine or medication exists to prevent or treat Zika virus infection. On February 1st 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) declared current Zika virus outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Authors and Affiliations
Aleksandra Różyk
Keywords
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- EP ID EP192171
- DOI 10.7365/JHPOR.2015.2.10
- Views 81
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