Significance of the study: Zika virus, also known as ZikV, has been in the spotlight with several studies being carried out to better understand the effects of the virus on foetuses and newborns from infected mothers. This increased interest in the virus is as a result of reported increase in the occurrence of microcephaly in Brazil, an occurrence which researchers suspect to be as a result of a corresponding global increase in the prevalence of this virus (Sarno et al. 2016; WHO 2016) and although a causal association has not yet been confirmed, there is an increasing consensus that the virus is behind not only this increase in microcephaly but also the observed current increase in the number of cases of Guillan-Barre syndrome (GBS) (Heymann et al. 2016; Schuler-Faccini et al. 2016). Furthermore, other reports have linked this virus to other neurological and ophthalmological defects (de Paula Freitas et al. 2016; Martines et al. 2016; Mlakar et al. 2016) and a study by Sarno et al. (2016) have further linked it with hydrops foetal and foetal demise. Due to the uncertainty of links between Zika virus and microcephaly as well as a dearth of knowledge on how the virus produces this teratogenic outcome, this essay has been written with a thesis statement that is that these occurrences are not a mere coincidence but that Zika virus is indeed responsible for the occurrence of microcephaly in foetuses. To achieve this, this paper will highlight results of a research carried out
The same media statement displays a chaotic tone when it dispels the instability to the public as it states, “no single piece of evidence provides conclusive proof that Zika virus infection is a cause of microcephaly and other fetal brain defects. This statement is critically flawed in contradiction, and serves only to confuse the public even further, about the possibilities of Zika virus causing microcephaly. It is clear the media at times serves to confuse, and terrorize the public, and nobody is off limits in the fearmongering game, perpetuated by mainstream media.
"This study in a nonhuman primate gives a vital commitment to our comprehension of the course of Zika infection disease in primates," Amelia Pinto of Saint Louis University, Missouri, who was not included in the work, said in an announcement sent to columnists. In any case, "this study is continuous, so from the outcomes reported in this paper we can't yet say that macaques will be a decent model for comprehension the connections between Zika contamination amid pregnancy and the expanded danger for microcephaly," Pinto included.
This result has been 30 times higher than pre-Zika virus years and there has been more birth defect within the first trimester. The result of the study indicated that 15% of women with confirmed Zika infection during the first trimester had babies with birth defects and that almost every state reported one woman with suspected Zika infection during pregnancy. Based on the report, infants born to women with evidence of possible Zika virus infection should follow-up and routine development assessment that will help identify for future outcomes associated with the Zika virus. Neuroimaging test is needed to detect these abnormalities. The report also indicates that the study has at least four limitations and that there was limited data about the maternal risk factors such as genetic or other infectious causes, which could has been the reason for some of the birth defects reported in the study. Overall, the result of this study is important because it gives more information about the Zika virus and how is affecting pregnant women in U.S.
“This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly”( Tom Frieden). Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development. With the Olympics being held in Brazil, there is much cause to attention the potential disease being brought back to the U.S. by female athletes bringing an epidemic to carry havoc on the citizens of the United States. It can be spread very easily through mosquito bites of the yellow fever mosquito. From the mosquitoes, the virus does not cause many symptoms to its victims generating unknown awareness of the virus. “ Only one in five people who become infected with Zika virus will feel sick. Symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever, rash, pink eye, pains in joints, pain behind the eyes, headache, and muscle pains”( Levison, Matthew). The symptoms, if any, last 4-7 days in most cases. The Zika Virus is an easily spread disease with few symptoms.
Zika virus creates a trepidation among people as it is spreading across South and Central America. We hear it every day as it is procuring Ebola-level awareness. In her article, “An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak, published in February 3rd of 2016, Anna Almendrala enumerates the effects of Zika virus and the alarming fear it causes among the people. “Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes” (Almendrala). The author expounds the fatal consequence to babies born with birth defects such as microcephaly: the condition where infants born with undersized heads. The author emphasizes the relation between Zika virus and microcephaly. Microcephaly is the condition where infants born with undersized heads. Almendrala’s purpose is to convey the idea of how the Zika virus is spread across the countries through mosquitoes and she informs the audience to take special care of pregnant women as they are more prone to the Zika virus and always be vigilant while traveling to countries that are affected by Zika virus, especially African, Central and South America where more people are affected by Zika virus and more babies are born with undersized heads caused by
The virus is spreading through two different types of Aedes mosquitoes. Adults with the virus may only experience mild symptoms including pain, rash, or a slight fever (Partlow). The virus can often go unnoticed (Romero). The problems arise within the children born to women who have the virus. It is speculated that the Zika virus is causing infants to be born with microcephaly. This causes the child to be born with an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development. Brazil has been hit hardest with the virus and has seen over 4,000 cases of microcephaly
The Zika virus has had a constant presence in the news for the past few months. This article describes Ana Gabriela do Prado Paschoal's struggles. She contracted the Zika virus while pregnant with her now three month old daughter Maria. Maria now suffers from brain lesions, stiff muscles, and brain damage. With the help of scans, imaging, and autopsies doctors learned that the Zika virus eats away at the fetal brain. It is responsible for shrinking or destroying the part of the brain that controls vision, thought process, and other basic functions.
Stein also reports that microcephaly in infants due to the Zika virus is rare, but the risk has been increased in Brazil, due to the endemic status of the infection (Stein, 2016). This article mainly focuses on pregnant women and their children,
February 1, 2016 the World Health announced a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) that declared the Zika virus was a global health emergency. Brazil being the most affected country in the world right now has cases where pregnant women with the virus have given birth to children with smaller heads causing their brains to not develop correctly.The Zika virus is a flavivirus (Karimi) that is related to the common dengue virus and West Nile disease. A flavivirus is a group of RNA (a ribonucleic acid), that are mostly carried by mosquitoes, flies, fleas, etc. The virus carried causes severe human diseases, that are most commonly related to the Dengue and West Nile disease. The disease
April 2015, small but deadly outbreaks began in Brazil, South America. Hundreds of Brazilian women infected by the Zika virus, endanger their unborn children to develop a form of brain damage called, Microcephaly. In the early months of 2016, South America’s CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) announced the Zika virus has taken full effect, and called for a state of emergency. Researchers today, study the effects of the Zika virus, where it comes/evolved from, and if there is a cure.
The purpose of Lupton’s article is to collaboratively working with global health organizations to stop the spread of Zika virus by educating residents living in affected areas about the risk and complications of the virus and how to prevent women of reproductive age from getting infected. The author addresses that there are over 35 countries around the world, including Brazil, have been affected with Zika virus. The spreading of the virus has caused great concerns to un-infected neighbor countries about the increasing risk of the congenital abnormalities. One of the most important of the author’s point of views is that health care providers should educate their patients and/or people in the community with knowledge about potential dangerous
ABSTRACT: This paper will demonstrate how ultrasound has been a key tool in aiding the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in diagnosing how the outbreak of Zika virus has led pregnant women to develop fetal abnormalities such as microcephaly among others. An ultrasound is used to determine microcephaly by measuring the fetal head circumference (HC). If the HC is more than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean compared to other fetuses that same age and gender then this indicates microcephaly. A condition such as microcephaly usually doesn’t present itself until the second or third trimester. It is important for the sonographer to be proficient and to have time on their side in hopes for an early detection, thus recommending regular ultrasounds every few weeks to monitor the progress of the fetus.
The mosquito-borne virus has brought devastation in Latin America, causing an increase in cases of microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition where babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains, CNN reported.
Brazil has had over 4,000 cases of microcephaly since the past fall, which is 20 times more cases than previous years. With the rise of the Zika virus, a lot of research is being executed in finding the correlation between the two, if any. Although it is not yet clear, these increases have been causing a lot of worry and debate throughout the world.
Zika virus epidemic in the Americas is linked to increased prevalence in microcephaly in infants infected with the Zika virus (ZIKV) in utero. The purpose of the study was to develop a vaccine to for women of childbearing age and their sexual partners to prevent infection and Viremia due to ZIKV. The authors created a DNA vaccine that can produce pre-membrane and envelope proteins that offer immune protection in mice and primates. This study showed that DNA vaccine is an effective way to protect against ZIKV.