Zika threatens to become a huge worldwide pandemic

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Author: Alcides Troncoso
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016
• Subjects: Zika virus; Arbovirus; Emergence; Aedes aegypti; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic; Barré; Climate change
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.04.004; https://doaj.org/article/b54221975f5e4b149e6dc479323f75d5

The Aedes aegypti mosquito which transmits Zika virus (as well as dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever) represents a high risk for global transmission. This virus comes from Africa, the Zika forest in Uganda, where it was discovered in 1947 in a rhesus monkey. In May 2015, the first local cases were recorded in Brazil, surpassing 1.5 million cases in December of the same year. By March 2016, local transmission of Zika was recognized in 34 countries. Its clinical condition is similar to dengue febrile illness, although milder. The final geographical distribution area is constantly expanding. Recently, it has been associated with cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela and Suriname. Microcephaly was documented in Brazil. This article discusses some factors that contributed to the spread of Zika virus in South America. Climate change associated with the events of the phenomenon of “El Niño” is also analyzed. The biggest concern is how quickly Zika is spreading around the world and that it could be far more dangerous than previously thought. Zika virus infection, by its explosive potential, has every chance of becoming a global pandemic.