High Potential Risk of Zika Virus Infection Outbreak in Dengue Suspected Cases in Nepal (original) (raw)

Threats of Zika virus transmission for Asia and its Hindu-Kush Himalayan region

Asia and its Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is particularly vulnerable to environmental change, especially climate and land use changes further influenced by rapid population growth, high level of poverty and unsustainable development. Asia has been a hotspot of dengue fever and chikungunya mainly due to its dense human population, unplanned urbanization and poverty. In an urban cycle, dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes which are also competent vectors of Zika virus (ZIKV). Over the last decade, DENV and CHIKV transmissions by Ae. aegypti have extended to the Himalayan countries of Bhutan and Nepal and ZIKV could follow in the footsteps of these viruses in the HKH region. The already established distribution of human-biting Aedes mosquito vectors and a naïve population with lack of immunity against ZIKV places the HKH region at a higher risk of ZIKV. Some of the countries in the HKH region have already reported ZIKV cases. We have documented an increasing threat of ZIKV in Asia and its HKH region because of the high abundance and wide distribution of human-biting mosquito vectors, climate change, poverty, report of indigenous cases in the region, increasing numbers of imported cases and a naïve population with lack of immunity against ZIKV. An outbreak anywhere is potentially a threat everywhere. Therefore, in order to ensure international health security, all efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to ZIKV ought to be intensified now in Asia and its HKH region. To prepare for possible ZIKV outbreaks, Asia and the HKH region can also learn from the success stories and strategies adopted by other regions and countries in preventing ZIKV and associated complications. The future control strategies for DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV should be considered in tandem with the threat to human well-being that is posed by other emerging and re-emerging vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, and by the continuing urgent need to strengthen public primary healthcare systems in the region.

Nation-wide vector surveillance on Zika and Dengue did not indicate transmission of the “American lineage pandemic ZIKA virus” in India

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2021

Objectives: Following the Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared on Zika by the World Health Organization during 2016, the Indian Council of Medical Research carried out nationwide vector surveillance for Zika and Dengue viruses (ZIKV and DENV) in India as a preparedness measure in 2016-19. Methods: High-risk zones distributed to 49 Districts in 14 states/union territories were included in the study. Seven ICMR institutions participated, following a standard operating protocol. Aedes specimens sampled weekly were processed by multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for ZIKV/DENV and random samples crosschecked with real-time RT-PCR for ZIKV. Results: Altogether, 79 492 Aedes specimens in 6492 pools were processed; 3 (0.05%) and 63 (0.97%) pools, respectively, were found positive for ZIKV and DENV. ZIKV infections were recorded in Aedes aegypti sampled during the 2018 sporadic Zika outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan. However, these belonged to the Asian lineage of the virus, already circulating in the country. Both Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus distributed to 8 states/union territories were found to be infected with DENV. Both sexes of Ae. albopictus were infected, indicating transovarial transmission. Conclusion: This investigation evinced no active transmission of the American lineage-pandemic Zika virus in India during the pandemic period.

Zika virus in Asia

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first isolated from a sentinel rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest in Uganda in 1947. In Asia, the virus was isolated in Malaysia from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in 1966, and the first human infections were reported in 1977 in Central Java, Indonesia. In this review, all reported cases of ZIKV infection in Asia as of September 1, 2016 are summarized and some of the hypotheses that could currently explain the apparently low incidence of Zika cases in Asia are explored.

Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika, and Other Emerging Mosquito-Borne Viruses

2021

The past two decades have seen an explosive increase in emerging and reemerging infections, ranging from SARS and Ebola viruses, to epidemics of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), including chikungunya and Zika viruses. Dengue and St. Louis encephalitis viruses have emerged from areas of the United States where they had been absent for over a decade. This alarming increase in number and frequency of outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, in particular, stems from the convergence of several factors. Abrupt changes in land use have brought humans closer to transmission cycles between vectors and non-human vertebrate hosts that previously had been strictly sylvatic. Rapid and unplanned urbanization due to spread of poverty has created opportunities for insect vectors, like Aedes albopictus, to establish urban endemicity by adapting breeding habits to thrive in man-made containers. Global warming has expanded the habitable range of vectors like Aedes aegypti. This chapter focuses on viruses transmitted by mosquitoes to highlight the importance of these emerging diseases. Only by learning from the past can we anticipate and prepare for the future.

Nation-wide vector surveillance did not indicate transmission of the “American lineage pandemic ZIKA virus” in India

2021

Background In wake of the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) during 2016, on the outbreak of ZIKA pandemic, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) carried out countrywide vector surveillance for ZIKA and DENGUE viruses (ZIKV & DENV) in India, as a preparedness measure. Methods The study incorporated high-risk zones distributed to 49 Districts in 14 states/ Union Territories (UT) of India during 2016-2019. Seven ICMR Institutions undertook the study, following a uniform Standard Operating Protocol. Aedes specimens sampled on weekly intervals were processed by multiplex Reverse transcriptase PCR for ZIKV/DENV and Real time RT-PCR of ZIKV, among few samples distributed to all the Districts. Results Altogether, 79492 specimens of Aedes mosquitoes in 6492 pools were processed for both ZIKV and DENV infections. Among these, three and 63 pools respectively were found positive for ZIKV and DENV. ZIKV infections were recorded from Aedes aegypti sampled...

Zika, Chikungunya, and Other Emerging Vector-Borne Viral Diseases

Annual review of medicine, 2017

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) have a long history of emerging to infect humans, but during recent decades, they have been spreading more widely and affecting larger populations. This is due to several factors, including increased air travel and uncontrolled mosquito vector populations. Emergence can involve simple spillover from enzootic (wildlife) cycles, as in the case of West Nile virus accompanying geographic expansion into the Americas; secondary amplification in domesticated animals, as seen with Japanese encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and Rift Valley fever viruses; and urbanization, in which humans become the amplification hosts and peridomestic mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti, mediate human-to-human transmission. Dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika viruses have undergone such urban emergence. We focus mainly on the latter two, which are recent arrivals in the Western Hemisphere. We also discuss a few other viruses with the potential to emerge ...

Zika Virus: A threat to global Public health- WHO Faramework Review

NeuroPharmac Journal

Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. Background Zika virus is an emerging viral disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti, the same vector that transmits chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever. Zika has a similar epidemiology, clinical presentation and transmission cycle in urban environments as chikungunya and dengue, although it generally causes milder illness. Symptoms of Zika virus disease include fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache, which normally last for 2 to 7 days. National health authorities have reported an observed increase of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and microcephaly. Today the Brazilian national authorities estimate 500,000 to 1,500,000 cases of Zika virus disease. In October 2015, both Colombia and Cape Verde, off the coast of Africa, reported their first outbreaks of the virus. As of 22 January 2016 Colombia had reported 16,419 cases, El Salvador 3,836 cases and Panama 99 cases of Zika virus disease. As of 12 February, a total of 39 countries in multiple regions have reported autochthonous (local) circulation of Zika virus, and there is evidence of local transmission in six additional countries. As per the health authorities India has not reported any case of Zika Virus. Health Authorities in India is taking adequate precaution to keep Zika Virus outside the India.

Zika virus epidemiology: from Uganda to world pandemic, an update

Epidemiology and Infection, 2018

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is an emergent worldwide public health problem. Historically, 84 countries have reported vector-borne ZIKV transmission, 61 of which report ongoing transmission. It is a Flavivirus transmitted through arthropods belonging to the Aedes genus. Since 2015, ZIKV infections have increased dramatically; with 1.3 million people infected during 2015 in Brazil alone. This paper's objective is to highlight the conjectural epidemiological points of the virus' dissemination. The digital archives Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched for papers that assessed aspects of ZIKV transmission and epidemiology. The first isolation occurred in Uganda in 1947. Since then, important outbreaks were documented globally. Consequently, an emergent public health problem arose from a rapidly increasing incidence and its association with the development of neurological diseases such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Key factors in the successful containment of outbreaks include surveillance of mosquitos in the neighbourhood, an early mosquito control treatment, an assertive information campaign, and the involvement of the local population and healthcare workers. As such, while ZIKV seems to be spreading globally in a similar manner to other arboviruses, such as Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, it can also be rapidly contained due to the pre-existing availability of necessary resources and regulatory tools as control measures. This review aims to provide a description of those characteristics of ZIKV infection that may be useful in the construction of effective outbreak control strategies.

Zika virus: An emerging challenge to public health worldwide

Canadian Journal of Microbiology

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that was first isolated from Zika forest, Uganda, in 1947. Since its inception, major and minor outbreaks have been documented from several parts of world. Aedes spp. mosquitoes are the primary vectors of ZIKV, but the virus can also be transmitted through sexual practices, materno-fetal transmission, and blood transfusion. The clinical presentations of symptomatic ZIKV infections are similar to dengue and chikungunya, including fever, headache, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, conjunctivitis, and rash. ZIKV often causes mild illness in the majority of cases, but in some instances, it is linked with congenital microcephaly and autoimmune disorders like Guillain–Barré syndrome. The recent Indian ZIKV outbreak suggests that the virus is circulating in the South East Asian region and may cause new outbreaks in future. At present, no specific vaccines or antivirals are available to treat ZIKV, so management and control of ZIKV infections rely m...