Zika virus - what you need to know

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The same mosquito also transmits 3 other vector-borne diseases -- dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever – across tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The most common symptoms of Zika virus are headache, muscle and joint pain, mild fever, rash, and inflammation of the underside of the eyelid. To lower the risk of being infected with Zika virus: use insect repellent; cover as much of the body as possible with long, light-coloured clothing; empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water to remove places mosquitoes can breed; and sleep under mosquito nets.

Key facts

• Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.


• People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.


• There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.


• The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.


• The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
  

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus transmission. Today, CDC added the following destinations to the Zika virus travel alerts:  Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde, and Samoa.  On January 15, CDC issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory; Brazil; Colombia; El Salvador; French Guiana; Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras; Martinique; Mexico; Panama; Paraguay; Suriname; and Venezuela.  Specific areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing are often difficult to determine and are likely to continue to change over time.
The virus has now been confirmed in three travelers from the UK. In the US, “over a dozen” cases of Zika have been confirmed so far. Currently, one infant diagnosed with the condition in Hawaii is carrying the virus – the first case of Zika-connected microcephaly in the US. Officials continue to explore possible links between Zika in pregnant women and microcephaly in their babies. The CDC now is advising pregnant women to consider delaying travel to Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa.
Only a few imported cases have been reported in Australia, with no locally acquired infections.
In a report to SBS, Dr Mike Catton, Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne explains, "The good news with Zika virus is that it's transmitted by the Aedes aegyptimosquito which is a mosquito which we don't have in Australia. It's the mosquito that transmits yellow fever.
"At this point if an Australian were infected overseas and were to come back to Australia the priority would be just appropriately caring for that person and diagnosing what they had but there wouldn't be at this point a risk of onward transmission to other Australians."
Smart Traveller recommends that people traveling to areas where Zika has been detected take measures to avoid insect bites, including using an appropriate strong insect repellent and wearing long, loose fitting, light coloured clothing.
 
References:
World Health Organisation. Zika Virus. Jan 2016
Centres for Disease Control. Zika Virus. 22 Jan 2016
RT Question More. Zika virus: What you need to know about the latest global health scare. 23 Jan 2016.