Zika virus is viral infection, that is known to physicians since 1947. In 2015, the World Health Organization established its outbreak in South America: the illness began to spread rapidly around the world, and in February reached Europe. After this fact, Zika virus was declared a global threat (Faye, Zanotto & Sall 2014)
The incubation period consists of ten days. The main symptoms for Zika virus are headache, rash, fever, malaise, conjunctivitis, and pain in the joints. Nausea, vomiting, and stomach problems may also appear. Such symptoms can be facilitated with the help of paracetamol. Recovery occurs within 7-10 days. This virus is extremely dangerous for pregnant women, they give birth to disabled children with microcephaly (underdeveloped brain). Nowadays the medicine to prevent the disease is not present, but India says they have developed a cure for the dangerous virus. However, WHO believes that the test of a vaccine can only be expected in 1.5 years. Doctors say that Zika virus can be transmitted by kissing, sexually or through a mosquito bite (“Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment” 2016)
The Executive Board of the World Health Organization in Geneva held an extraordinary meeting, dedicated to the development of urgent measures to combat the Zika virus, because of severe defects in thousands of infants in the States and Latin America, mainly in Brazil. American scientists announced the decision after a warning that there is a risk of a pandemic fever.
Microcephaly is considered the main danger of Zika virus. It is an inherent reduction in size of the brain and the skull of the fetus, leading to mental retardation. The first cases of virus infection were reported in the United States. There are four cases recorded in New York, one at a time in California, Minnesota, Virginia and Arkansas. Hospitals in the US, according to the order of the authorities, no longer accept blood donations from people who have visited tropical countries in the risk zone. Several airlines have offered to return the money to pregnant women among the passengers who have booked flights to Latin America (Gatherer & Kohl 2015)
The situation is a matter of concern to the WHO experts for several reasons. First, the disease may soon spread to other countries. In the new areas of infection, the population has no immunity to the Zika virus. In addition, doctors do not have vaccines against the disease, its operational capabilities of diagnosis and specific treatment.
It should be noted, Zika virus rapidly spreading in South and North America, it has already covered 23 countries. The virus is associated with the appearance of birth defects and neurological problems. WHO warns that mosquitoes spread the virus, it is transforming from a mild threat to the alarming proportions. WHO estimates that in Central and South America there may be 3-4 million cases of Zika virus fever within the next year. Actions of the World Health Organization are under the scrutiny of public opinion, because they slowly reacted to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. Their deliberation led to death of thousands of people (Gatherer & Kohl 2015).
Zika virus came to South America from Africa or Asia in 2015. It turned out that the continent has the ideal conditions for the large-scale spread of the virus. For example, in Brazil, the incidence peaked in the autumn of 2015. Since then, he has had time to spread throughout South America. In the summer of 2016 in Brazil will hold the Summer Olympic Games. The authorities promise to overcome the pandemic fever before they start, but it is not clear how they will do it (Martines 2016).
References
Faye, O., Zanotto, P. M., & Sall, A. A. (2014, January 9). Molecular Evolution of Zika Virus during Its Emergence in the 20th Century. Retrieved February 21, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888466/
Gatherer, D., & Kohl, A. (2015, December 18). Zika virus: A previously slow pandemic spreads rapidly through the Americas. Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://jgv.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/jgv.0.000381
Martines, R. B. (2016, February 18). Evidence of Zika Virus Infection. Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6506e1.htm
“Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment.” (2016, February 03). Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/
