Zika virus

Related Subjects: | Fever in a traveller |Malaria Falciparum |Malaria Non Falciparum |Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) |Lassa fever |Dengue |Marburg virus disease | AIDS HIV | Yellow fever | Ebola Virus | Leptospirosis | Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever |African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness) |American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease) |Incubation Periods | Notifiable Diseases UK

About

• Spread by bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito
• Either Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus
• Zika virus was first discovered in 1947
• It is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda.

Aetiology

• These mosquitoes bite during the day and night.
• Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
• Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.

Clinical

• Often asymptomatic, fever
• Rash, headache, joint pain
• Red eyes, muscle pain
• Can last days to weeks

Complications

• Pregnant fetus develops microcephaly and other severe brain defects.
• Causes miscarriage, stillbirth, and other birth defects.
• Guillain-Barre syndrome

Investigations

• Serology on blood or urine

Differentials

• Dengue and chikungunya

Prevention

• There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens
• Keep mosquitoes outside.
• Mosquito netting for babies
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.
• Sexual transmission possible so use condoms or no sex.

Management

• Supportive. Get plenty of rest. Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
• Pregnant women monitored in pregnancy with USS

References