Zika Virus Presentation

I. Introduction with Formal and Common Names

A. The common name for this disease is Zika.

B. The formal name for this disease is Flavivirus.

II. Organism Responsible

A. Zika virus is primarily caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. They are
commonly known as yellow fever mosquitos.
B. If a mosquito drinks the blood of a Zika infected host, the mosquito can continue to
transmit the disease to others.

III. Common Causes

A. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Zika can be
spread from a man to his sexual partners.
B. In rare cases, a mother can pass Zika to her child during pregnancy via her placenta.
C. Because of these scientific discoveries, the hosts for Zika have been expanded to
Homo Sapiens, Rhesus macaque, Aedes mosquitoes, and Aedes albopictus.

IV. Symptoms
A. Many individuals with Zika will not have symptoms or will only have some mild
symptoms.
B. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and
muscle pain.
C. Symptoms usually last several days to a week and people do not get sick enough to
have to go to the hospital.

V. Disease Burden
A. Zika is present in 70 countries
B. It is active in almost all countries in the Americas, many Pacific Islands, and in one
country in Africa.

VI. Common Course of the Disease

A. Infection from mosquito bite
- Most common
B. Infection through pregnancy
- Can cause microcephaly in newborns
C. Infection through sex
- Infection through blood transmission

VII. Morbidity/Mortality globally

 A. As of Dec. 2016:
US has reported 5001 cases (including travel associated cases)
Us Territories reported a total of 36,638
B. These numbers include microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
C. The majority of countries have reported a level 2 of Zika.
D. Deaths are extremely rare.
Since 2007, Zika has progressively spread.

VIII.Treatment of Choice

A. No vaccine/treatment available.
This includes microcephaly in newborns.
B. 40 candidate vaccines underway
May not be out to the public until 2020.
C. Symptoms can be treated
In adults:
Acetaminophen can be used.
Get rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Treatment for newborns varies on severity of microcephaly.

Works Cited
CDC. Zika Travel Information. Retrieved from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-
travel-information
CDC. Zika Virus. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Potential Economic Impact of the
Zika Virus. Retrieved from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-
institutes/ivac/IVACBlog/the-potential-economic-impact-of-the-zika-virus
World Health Organization. Zika: We Must Be Ready For the Long Haul. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/commentaries/2017/zika-long-haul/en/
World Health Organization. Zika Virus and Potential Complications. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/