Women of child bearing age in such locations as Brazil, Columbia and Puerto Rico have fear in their faces at the mention of Zika. It’s not fear of personal pain, fever, or achy joints. It’s the fear of having their sons and daughters born with irreversible brain damage, causing life-long problems of seizures, speech, and intellectual disability, among other horrors.
According to the American Mosquito Control Association, more than one million deaths occur each year from mosquito-borne illnesses including malaria, dengue, and chikugunya virus. Primarily spread by the Aedes Aegypti, the same mosquito spreading yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya, the Zika virus has been added to our fears.
While Zika isn’t killing its victims, there is strong evidence it’s causing horrible birth defects and serious illnesses.
Zika was discovered in Uganda in 1947. It has alarmed public health officials in recent months only because of its suspected association with thousands of cases of serious birth defects of babies born to women infected with the virus. The World Heath Organization (WHO), declaring a Zika global public emergency, has estimated that the virus will reach most of the Americas and infect up to 4 million people by the end of 2016.
How is Zika transmitted?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we know people are infected by Zika through mosquito bites. What is not well known is that Zika can be transmitted from infected men to their partners through unprotected sexual contact. In addition, it’s been reported in Brazil that Zika infections have been caused by blood transfusions.
What are the effects of Zika?
The most common symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Some have experienced muscle pain and headaches.
Zika has been linked to the debilitating Guillain-Barre syndrome. Of Zika and Guillain-Barre, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, CDC director, said recently, “With each passing day, the evidence that it is the cause mounts.” Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of its own peripheral nervous system. Its primary symptoms are weakness or tingling sensations in the legs and upper body which can progress to severe paralysis and can be life-threatening.
Zika infection of pregnant women has been linked to microcephaly of their children. It’s a serious birth defect with life-long problems of seizures, speech, movement, balance, hearing, vision, and intellectual disability.
How can Zika be treated?
It’s important to understand that at this time there are no vaccines to prevent the contraction of Zika, and there are no specific medications to treat infections of the virus.
Currently, doctors are only able to treat the symptoms of Zika infections. For most people infected with Zika, the CDC advises them to get plenty of rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, and take medication such as acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain. The CDC advises patients against the use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. For those taking medication for other medical conditions, the CDC strongly advises consulting a physician.
Isn’t it true that the links between Zika and birth defect plus other health problems aren’t proven?
Despite the disease being known for almost 70 years, significant unknowns about Zika remain, as in the past it wasn’t seen as a serious threat. Until recently, few people had heard of it.
While there remains no absolute causal proof of the Zika links to the conditions described above, the mounting evidence is quickly becoming overwhelming. Regardless, while Zika research continues, for those living or traveling in affected areas, ignoring them makes no sense whatsoever.
What can travelers in Zika affected areas do?
• The CDC recommends pregnant women and those attempting to become pregnant consider postponing travel to Zika affected areas.
• Male partners of women attempting to become pregnant should also consider postponing travel to Zika affected areas.
• Men who have any possibility of being infected with Zika should use a condom during sexual intercourse to prevent transmission of the virus to their partner.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid mosquito bites. Use clothing and gear properly treated with the mosquito repellent, Permethrin. Do not use Permethrin products directly on skin.
• Apply insect repellent to skin with DEET, picaridin and IR3535, which are effective and considered safe, even for pregnant women, according to the CDC. Don’t use insect repellents on babies younger than two months of age.
• Only choose hotels with air conditioning or at least with screens on all windows and doors.
• If you’re sleeping outside, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitos live inside as well as outside, so if your room isn’t air conditioned and not well screened, use mosquito netting.
While most people infected with Zika experience only mild symptoms, the disease can be devastating to those living and traveling in affected areas. All should heed the CDC’s warnings about Zika and if in a Zika affected area, take every possible precaution to prevent contracting the disease.
(Image: Copyright © 2009 John Tann)
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
