Everything You Need to Know About the Zika Virusplanning ahead // on Tuesday May 31, 2016
With June right around the corner, it is a great time for churches to begin planning their summer mission trips. While these trips can be the opportunity of a lifetime, they can quickly be brought down when illness strikes.
Recently, the Zika virus was introduced as a concern for those traveling out of the country. Outbreaks have been reported in Central and South America and a Public Health Emergency has been declared. Before you set off for your mission trip, be sure you are aware of the Zika virus and learn how to take the correct measures to prevent infection.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that is spread to humans through a mosquito bite. This virus tends to be very mild, but can pose more serious risks to pregnant women. The virus was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda with the first human case being reported in 1952. Since the discovery, various outbreaks have taken place. However, on February 1, 2016, the Zika virus was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization.
The virus has been reported in numerous US territories such as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. At this time, no US states have been reported to have mosquitos carrying the virus. As of May 18, 2016 there have been 544 travel-associated cases of the Zika virus in the US with no local cases. In US territories, there have been four travel-associated cases and 832 locally acquired cases of the Zika virus.
Symptoms - The symptoms of Zika are fairly mild and typically will not require the individual to go to the hospital. In fact, most people who have the Zika virus won’t even know they have it as they will not display any symptoms. Common symptoms that may show up, however, include;
- joint pain;
- muscle pain;
- conjunctivitis (red eyes); or
These symptoms are known to last several days to a week. Fortunately, once an individual has been infected, they are not likely to be infected again.
Treatment - As the symptoms are fairly mild, there is no specific treatment for the Zika virus. However, if you have been infected, it is advised to get plenty of sleep, drink fluids to prevent dehydration and to take Tylenol to reduce fever or pain. It is also important to avoid more mosquito bites during the first week of illness. The Zika virus in your blood can infect the mosquito that bites you which can then spread the disease to other people.
Pregnancy - While the Zika virus is typically very mild, it can quickly become very dangerous for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the very near future. A pregnant woman can pass the virus onto her fetus, which may cause birth defects in the child.
Zika has been known to cause Microcephaly, a birth defect in which the baby’s brain does not develop causing the head to be much smaller than it is supposed to be. This condition can cause further problems such as seizures, intellectual disability, developmental delay, hearing and vision problems and problems with movement and balance. Aside from Microcephaly, Zika may cause other birth defects such as eye defects, hearing loss and impaired growth. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future, it is very important to take the necessary measures to prevent being infected with the Zika Virus.
Prevention - While there are no specific vaccines to prevent the Zika virus, there are many things you can do to help prevent being bit by a mosquito that may be infected. These include:
- wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover exposed skin;
- stay in places with air conditioning and window/door screens;
- sleep under a mosquito bed net if sleeping outside; and
- use insect repellants.
By taking these measures to avoid mosquito bites, it can reduce your chances from becoming infected with the Zika virus.
For more information on the Zika virus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.