Zika, an emerging Aedes-mosquito-borne virus which is spreading throughout the Americas recently, could reach Bangladesh anytime, health experts warn.
Concerns have grown even stronger in Bangladesh after news media in Thailand and Taiwan this week reported cases of the virus infection among locals. Both places are popular destinations for Bangladeshi travellers, increasing the risk of the virus also spreading here.
Aedes aegypti, the carrier of the virus, is also responsible for spreading dengue fever throughout the Indian sub-continent region, especially in Bangladesh and India.
At the moment, the Central and Latin Americas have been hit the hardest, with more than three million reported cases of infection last year, according to the Pan American Health Organisation.
BBC says the virus has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains and some countries have advised women not to get pregnant.
There is currently no vaccine available.
“Any country, including ours, could be a victim of such a deadly virus if it starts to spread at an epidemic form. It is just a matter of time,” Prof Mahmudur Rahman, director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
But Prof Mahmud maintained that it is still not a priority for the authorities since any case of infection is yet to be reported in the South Asia region.
“Detecting a Zika-infected person could be difficult at the entry points – for example, airports and border entry points – of the country since one needs to go through several medical tests before being identified positive. And the WHO is yet to issue a procedure guideline,” Prof Mahmud said.
A surge in incidents across Latin America, notably in Brazil, has prompted the US and other governments to warn pregnant women against travelling to the region. The WHO, however, has refrained from issuing travel warnings, stressing that the most effective form of prevention is getting rid of stagnant water where mosquitoes easily breed, and personal protection against mosquito bites such as using bug repellant and sleeping under mosquito nets.
Prof Mahmud warned that “pregnant women across the country will be more vulnerable to it” if the virus eventually reaches the shore.
Zika has suspected but unproven links to microcephaly – because of which babies born to women infected during pregnancy have abnormally small heads, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the US.
The virus is already present in 21 of the 55 countries and territories across the Americas, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a statement on Sunday.
It was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Brazil has recorded 3,893 microcephaly cases since an unusual spike in the rare condition was noticed in the country’s northeast in October. Previously an annual average of 160 cases was the norm.
The World Health Organisation said any death attributed to the virus is yet to be reported. It causes lifelong physical and developmental problems for babies born with it while problems can be wide-ranging from seizures to difficulty walking and learning, to hearing loss and vision difficulties.
Echoing the WHO directive, Prof Mahmud cautioned everyone to maintain basic protection from mosquito bites.
Transmission
Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Diagnosis
Zika virus is diagnosed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and virus isolation from blood samples. Diagnosis by serology can be difficult as the virus can cross-react with other flaviviruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever.
Prevention
Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people Wearing light-coloured cloths that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets Keeping empty, clean or covered all kinds of containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, to stop the mosquitoes breeding Special attention and help should be given to young children, the sick or elderly who may not be able to protect themselves adequately During travelling everyone should take the basic precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bitesTreatment
The WHO says Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People affected with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.
If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice.