Infectious Diseases Search
Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases
zika%20virus%20infection
ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION

Zika virus is an icosahedral, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that comes from the Flaviviridae family and genus Flavivirus.

It is transmitted in humans through a bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito.

In February 2016, the Zika virus infection was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an international health emergency.

Pregnant women infected by Zika virus may pass their infection to the developing fetus and may cause birth defects such as microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, intracranial calcifications, extra-axial fluid, polymicrogyria, decreased brain parenchymal volume, hypoplasia of the cerebellum, brainstem or dermis, delayed myelination, thinning or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and cortical atrophy and malformation.

 

 

Zika%20virus%20infection Patient Education

Patient Education

  • Both men and women (pregnant or non-pregnant) should be counseled on the possible risk and outcome of Zika virus transmission
    • Symptomatic men are advised to wait at least 6 months from the onset of symptoms before having unprotected sex
    • Asymptomatic men are advised to wait at least 6 months from the last date of possible exposure before having unprotected sex
    • Symptomatic women are advised to wait at least 8 weeks after the onset of symptoms before having unprotected sex
    • Asymptomatic women are advised to wait at least 8 weeks from the last date of possible exposure before having unprotected sex
  • Longer precautionary period is recommended for men because:
    • The RNA of the virus still persists in the semen of an infected man after his recovery from the illness
    • It is still unknown for how long will it take an infected man's semen to clear the virus
    • There is no documentation about a good evidence on the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic men
  • For patients who are trying to get pregnant, taking folic acid supplement for 28 days should be advised
Digital Edition
Asia's trusted medical magazine for healthcare professionals. Get your MIMS Infectious Diseases - Malaysia digital copy today!
Sign In To Download
Editor's Recommendations
Most Read Articles
Slight amino acid tweak weakens HBV
Tristan Manalac, 18 Nov 2020
The substitution of isoleucine to leucine at amino acid 97 (I97L) in the core region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) seems to reduce its potency, decreasing the efficiency of both infection and the synthesis of the virus’ covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, reports a new study presented at The Liver Meeting Digital Experience by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD 2020).
Pfizer and BioNTech are testing 4 novel vaccines in Europe and US.
Pank Jit Sin, 13 May 2020
A trial vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 is underway with the first US participants being dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Known as the BNT162 vaccine programme, the trials are a collaboration between Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, and is part of a global development programme with Germany and the US taking the lead in having the first cohorts to be vaccinated. Germany started the study 1 week earlier. 
Can gargling with mouthwash stop coronavirus from its tracks?
Jairia Dela Cruz, 18 Dec 2020
Rinsing with mouthwash that contains povidone-iodine (PI) or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) helps reduce SARS-CoV-2 levels in the saliva of COVID-19 patients, with the effect persisting for up to 6 hours, as shown in a study from Singapore.