Zika Virus is NOW a Global Emergency - WHO

The Zika virus a known disease causing pathogen that has its origin in Africa is now a global burden. The disease that was only in Africa is now causing problems in the America. Zika virus was first isolated from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947. The virus was named after the Zika Forest in Uganda. Why are Monkeys linked with most of the deadly diseases? This is a question for the scientists and the “virus hunters”.  In 1948, and in the same Zika forest, the virus was also found in mosquitoes (Aedes Africanus). In 1954, before the independence of Nigeria, the virus was isolated in human. Today, the virus that was just in few places in Africa, is now global, and I mean it is now a threat to all humans in the world.

The Aedes mosquitoes cause the transmission of the Zika virus (Hayes, 2009) the first case in the America region was discovered in February 2014 in Chile. That the Zika virus is indigenous in the America countries like Chile and Brazil calls for better understanding of the spread of infections and their lifespan.  There is the need to understand that any infectious disease no matter how low the mortality rate poses as much threat as the others with high mortality rates. This is the age of emerging and reemerging infections, and the Global health authorities must be focused to curtail preventable epidemics and pandemics.

Zika virus like its "brother" the Ebola virus was not a global threat until recently. The zoonotic diseases are becoming the primary threats by trying to shift focus on the HIV, TB and the likes that have taken largest chunk of the Global health resources.

Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO declared as follows:

“I am now declaring that the recent cluster of Zika virus- related microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014 constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.She said countries priorities were to protect pregnant women and their babies from harm and to control the mosquitoes that are spreading the virus.

The WHO warned that Zika is likely to spread explosively across nearly all of the Americas with more than 20 countries, including Brazil reporting new cases daily. Currently, there is no vaccine or medication to stop Zika.The only way to avoid catching it is to avoid getting bitten by the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the infection.”

The action of the WHO is commendable, and all hands must be on deck to ensure Aedes mosquitoes are exterminated. Do not say how? It is possible if the whole world is serious like the Global North countries.

Alas, like Ebola the Zika has no cure, treatment is only through the management of the symptoms. 

References:

PAHO (2016) Zika Virus: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php option=com_content&view=article&id=11585&Itemid=41688&lang=en [Accessed February 2, 2016].

WHO 2016 Zika Virus [Online] Available from: http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs_05182015_zika/en/ [Accessed February 2, 2016]