Friday, January 29, 2016

Zika virus infection could each reach pandemic proportion?

Live healthy and long

Rizal Philippines
January 29, 2016

From BBC News

Alice Vitoria Gomes Bezerra, three months old, who has microcephaly, is placed in her crib by her father Joao Batista Bezerra in Recife, Brazil, 27 January
                                            Infant with microcephaly born in Brazil



Graphic showing babies' head size


Infections from Zika virus could reach pandemic proportions if uncontrolled. possibly infecting a couple of millions especially in Americas where it has infected 23 countries.  Its vector is Aedis Aegypti mosquito (did we not tell you that the animal that kills most people is the mosquito?)





Is symptoms generally includes rashes, reddening of the eyes and fever.  It rarely causes death and has no known cure.

But what makes it so alarming is that it causes microencepaly in infants (small heads) and there are about 4,000 reported in Brazil.  Pres Obama, CDC, and WHO have issued warning regarding Zika virus.  Advisory has been issued for pregnant women not to travel in countries known to have Zika infection

Zika spread map



                                              How Zika virus spread from Africa (meron sa Pilipinas?)


Female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from a human host.
                                     Aedis aegypti mosquito, which also carries malaria is the vector


Aedes aegypti are one of two species of mosquito known to carry the Zika virus.

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