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Dr KK Aggarwal 03 June 2018
Zika is a disease caused by the Zika virus. It was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda. The disease was first detected in humans in 1952. Since then, outbreaks have occurred in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
The most recent outbreak of Zika occurred in early 2015 in Brazil, which spread to South and North America, several islands in the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. In February 2016, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as evidence grew that Zika can cause birth defects as well as neurological problems. This outbreak was officially declared as over in November 2016 by the WHO. This 2015-16 outbreak also affected the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro.
Zika was also reported from India last year. Three laboratory-confirmed cases (RT-PCR) of Zika virus disease were reported in Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat, State, India providing evidence of the circulation of the virus in India. These cases emphasize the need for active surveillance for the virus.
o In patients presenting with symptom onset <7 days: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) is recommended.
o In patients presenting with symptom onset ≥7 days: Serology (IgM detection; preferred method) and/or NAT is recommended. As per the WHO, a negative NAT does not rule out the infection because viremia drops rapidly 7 days after onset of symptoms and so may not be detectable on NAT.
(Source: CDC, WHO)
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri AwardeeVice President CMAAOGroup Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of India
Immediate Past National President IMA
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