Zika Virus Disease

A
 Objectives
At the end of the presentation participants
should be able to:
• Define Zika virus disease
• Describe the signs and symptoms of Zika virus
disease.
• Outline the prevention and management of
Zika Virus Disease.
 Introduction
• According to World Health Organisation
(2016) Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-
borne virus that was first discovered in
Uganda in 1947, and named after the Zika
Forest in Uganda where it was discovered.
 Continued
• It was subsequently identified in humans in
1952 in Uganda and in Tanzania.
• Outbreaks have also been recorded in Africa,
the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
 Continued
• World Health Organization (2016), declared
that the Zika virus outbreak constituted
a Public Health Emergency of International
Concern on 1 February 2016.
Situational Analysis
 Definition
• Zika virus disease is a disease which is spread
to people primarily through the bite of an
infected mosquito under the group of Aedes
Species (World Health Organisation, 2016).
 Causative organism

Zika virus
 Mode of Transmission
• It is transmitted to people through the bite of
an infected mosquito.
• Mother to child during pregnancy and
perinatal.
• Sexual contact.
• Blood transfusion (Michael, 2016).
 Incubation
3 days to 12 days.
 Pathophysiology
• Zika replicates in the mosquito's midgut and
then its salivary gland cells.
• After 5–10 days, Zika virus can be found in the
mosquito’s saliva which can then infect
human.
• The virus spreads to lymph nodes and the
bloodstream.
• Flaviviruses generally replicate in the
cytoplasm, but Zika antigens have been found
in infected cell nuclei (Jackson, 2016).
 Diagnosis
• Is from the signs and symptoms and history of
travel to an area where Zika virus is present.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• laboratory testing for the presence of Zika
virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood or
other body fluids, such as urine, saliva or
semen.
 Signs and Symptoms
• The majority of people infected with Zika virus
do not display any symptoms.
• Cases of Zika virus infection that result in
hospitalization are uncommon.
• Symptoms can last for 2-7 days (ECDC, 2015).
 Continued
Most common signs and symptoms are:
• Fever
• Skin rash
• Muscle and joint pain
• Conjunctivitis
• Malaise and headache
• Painful eyes
• Vomiting.
 Prevention and Control
Currently there is no vaccine for Zika Virus
Disease.
• Health education
• Vector control
• Alerting travellers to endemic areas
• Condoms ( for at least 28 days)
• Screening of donated blood and blood
products
Prevention

medical surgical nursing II 17

 Management
Michael (2016), stated that Zika virus disease is
usually relatively mild and requires no specific
treatment.
• Symptoms can be treated by getting plenty of
fluids and rest.
• Analgesics for pain and fever
• Avoid non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS).
 Complications
According to Pan American Health Organisation
(2015), potential neurological and auto-
immune complications of Zika virus disease
have been reported in Brazil
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Microcephaly
• Chorioretinal scarring 
• Hydrops fetalis
 References
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control. (2016). Rapid risk assessment: Zika
virus disease epidemic. Retrieved from
http://www.ecdc.org on 28/04/16.
• Jackson, J. (2016). Zika Virus: Zika Virus
Infection. Create Space Independent Publishing
Platform. Saulo Paulo. Retrieved from
http://www.google.co.zw/books on 02/05/16.
 References
• Michael, S. (2016). Disease Without Borders.
Centre Street Publishers. New York. Retrieved
from http://www.google.co.zw/books on
01/05/16.
• Pan American Health Organization.
(2015). Epidemiological alert. Zika virus.
Retrieved from http://www.paho.org on
28/04/2016.
 References
• World Health Organisation. (2016).
Emergency Preparedness. Zika Virus.
Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/zika on
02/05/16.