Zika virus endemic challenges during COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Abdullahi Tunde Aborode, Mahnoor Sukaina, Harendra Kumar, Tahreem Farooqui, Samar Faheem, Priyanka Chahal, Luay Alkazmi, Helal F. Hetta, Gaber El-Saber Batiha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021
• Subjects: Zika virus; Endemic; COVID-19 pandemic; Challenges; Africa; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00372-6; https://doaj.org/article/e016e74fee09484b8e152039e44b4954

Abstract Zika virus remains endemic and opportunistic of high transmission in the tropical region of Africa, and the repeated cases of the Zika virus in Africa made it public health emergency in 2016. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the catastrophic cases of unknown and unreported deaths overwhelming the region of Africa could not give health attention to respond to other endemic diseases. Here, we present the possible complication and challenges associated with the Zika virus in Africa and COVID-19 predominance, shifting the attention from the Zika virus surveillance. This paper determines to enlighten the reader about the situation, the efforts to curb the transmission of both the Zika virus and the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the report recommends sustainable solutions that can lessen the threat to public health.