Zika virus: A possible emerging threat for Bangladesh!

Md Hossain,Sukumar Saha,K Nazir,Md Rahman

doi:10.5455/javar.2019.f385

Abstract

Zika virus, a member of Flaviviridae is the etiology of Zika or Zika fever or Zika virus (ZIKV) disease characterized by mild symptoms similar to very mild form of Dengue or Chikungunya. The virus transmits through Aedes mosquitoes, particularly by Aedes aegypti. The most dangerous effect of ZIKV infection is the ability of the virus to cause microcephaly and congenital malformation to the newborn baby if the mother is infected. The neurological disorders including Guillain-Barré syndrome might be associated with adults and children due to ZIKV infections. Zika has emerged as a serious global public health problem as it has been found in 87 countries, particularly in Africa, America, and Asia and has no vaccine and treatment so far. Bangladesh is at a high risk of ZIKV infection and we consider ZIKV as a possible emerging threat for Bangladesh. This short review summarizes the insights of ZIKV infection, present status of the disease in Bangladesh and its neighboring countries, and recommendations for necessary preparations and strategies to be taken for effective controlling of the ZIKV infection in Bangladesh before getting any havoc.

Highlights

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is one of the important infectious diseases of human caused by ZIKV belonging to the genus Flavivirus under the family Flaviviridae, which includes 52 other viral species including dengue and chikungunya viruses [1,2]
A member of Flaviviridae is the etiology of Zika or Zika fever or Zika virus (ZIKV) disease characterized by mild symptoms similar to very mild form of Dengue or Chikungunya
Though ZIKV infection might be asymptomatic or shows mild clinical symptoms, it can be fatal for newborn babies

Summary

Introduction

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is one of the important infectious diseases of human caused by ZIKV belonging to the genus Flavivirus under the family Flaviviridae, which includes 52 other viral species including dengue and chikungunya viruses [1,2]. Though no microcephaly has been reported in the Zika endemic areas, further research is needed for better learning the ZIKV and microcephaly in animal pregnancy as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others scientists [47]. According to WHO, till December 2018, around 159 cases of ZIKV infections have been identified in India, the neighboring country of Bangladesh [19] All these cases were detected based on RT-PCR, of which 63 were found in pregnant women. As Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram might be the easiest way to campaign message and materials to the mass people regarding Zika awareness and prevention information Through these social platforms, we need to make sure that individual citizen takes steps to prevent themselves from mosquito bite to protect infections like ZIKV (Fig. 4). More funding need to be allocated for studying insecticide resistance and reconfirmation of vector biology which will be helpful for developing effective insecticides for mosquitoes control (Fig. 4)

Conclusions and Recommendations

Findings

Conflict of interests