Zika: An enormous public health challenge for a miniscule virus
Journal Title: Medical Journal Armed Forces - Year 2018, Vol 74, Issue 1
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has recently affected 4 million people across the globe. The World Health Organization has declared Zika a ‘‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’’. The disease is caused by an arbovirus and transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Zika has followed a pattern already set in by Dengue and Chikungunya viruses. The virus exists in sylvatic form with spillovers to humans. The present outbreak in Brazil started in May 2015 and spread rapidly to Latin America and the Caribbean. The rapid spread is due to availability of non-immune population. The main concern of Zika is the association with microcephaly in infants and Guillain–Barré (GB) Syndrome. During the current Zika outbreak in Brazil, incidence of microcephaly in infants has shown a 20-fold rise. Increased incidence of GB Syndrome has been noticed during the 2013 outbreak in French Polynesia, and the current outbreak. However, causality has not been proved. It is possible that the ZIKV may enter and get established in India. Surveillance against the disease needs to be scaled up. Research needs to be undertaken regarding the dynamics of Zika spread and the development of vaccines. Inter-sectoral coordination and bottom-up approach along with vector control measures under the ambit of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme may help fight the virus.
Authors and Affiliations
M. S. Mustafa
Rate of intrusion of maxillary incisors in Class II Div 1 malocclusion using skeletal anchorage device and Connecticut intrusion arch
Background: Nonsurgical correction of deep bite involves either extrusion of posterior teeth, intrusion of incisors, or combination of both. The introduction of skeletal anchorage device with microimplant provides near a...
Cognitive deficits due to thermal stress: An exploratory study on soldiers in deserts
Background: It is well known that environmental factors play an important role in human performance. High temperature and humidity particularly impair mental performance by altering brain neurochemistry and electrolyte d...
Pre-eclampsia: Molecular events to biomarkers
Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy, which accounts for 10–15% of the maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. Abnormal placental development and tissue hypoxia are its main etiologic factors. The pr...
Nasal myiasis by Chrysomya bezziana
Myiasis is a pathogenic condition found in live humans and animals caused by various species of dipteran larvae. Chrysomya bezziana, also known as old world screwworm, is an obligate parasite in mammals and is known to i...
Research submission: Some technicalities and vital links
Publishing allows the author to share with the world his original findings, reasoning, important breakthroughs and it also creates the avenue for mandates of promotion and career upliftment. In an endeavour to publish an...