Prevention and treatment of zika virus infection

Zika virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus. Its name comes from the Ziika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.

Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti, in tropical and subtropical regions. Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day, peaking during early morning and late afternoon/evening.

The Zika virus rash will appear within 3 to 12 days of a bite from an infected mosquito. The rash often starts on the trunk and spreads to the face, arms, legs, soles, and palms. The rash is a combination of tiny red bumps and reddish blotches.

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain. Many people infected with Zika virus infection won't have any symptoms or will have mild symptoms, which can last for several days to a week. Zika virus spreads mostly by the bite of an infected mosquito. Prevent Zika virus infection by avoiding mosquito bites. Zika virus can cause birth defects and it is also linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Zika virus disease is generally mild, and severe disease condition requiring hospitalization and deaths are uncommon. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects and is associated with other pregnancy problems. The chance is highest with a Zika infection in the first trimester, but birth defects related to Zika virus can also happen after infection in the second or third trimester.

While anyone can get in contact with Zika virus, the mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to microcephaly and other neurological problems in newborns of affected mothers directly infects the brain progenitor cells destined to become neurons.

A blood or urine test can confirm Zika virus infection. Testing will be done using a molecular test which looks for presence of the virus in the body. Serological testing is not recommended since antibodies against Zika virus persist for years and cross-react with other similar viruses, including dengue.

For pregnant women who are at high risk for Zika virus infection, physician may also recommend one of the following procedures:

• An ultrasound to look for fetal brain problems.
• Amniocentesis, which involves inserting a hollow needle into the uterus to remove a sample of amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) to be tested for the Zika virus.

There is no specific treatment for infection with the Zika virus. To help relieve symptoms, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The body clears the Zika virus eventually. There are some viruses that stay in the body permanently-herpes and the AIDS virus HIV, for example. But Zika virus is one that the immune system eventually gets rid of within about two weeks.

The Over-The-Counter (OTC) medication acetaminophen may help relieve joint pains and fever and along with that tetracycline-based antibiotics may at least be effective at preventing the neurological problems associated with Zika virus infections.

The vaccine, GLS-5700, in phase I clinical trials, elicited Zika virus-binding antibodies in 100% individuals but only 60% of individuals in the study had neutralizing antibodies. However, the immune responses were found to be protective in in vitro and in vivo models of Zika virus infection.

As the ZPIV vaccine contains inactivated Zika virus particles, the virus cannot replicate and cause disease in humans.

Zika virus infection enhances future risk of severe dengue disease and low Zika antibody levels might affect clinical outcome of future dengue disease in humans by increasing the risk for severe dengue.

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Regards,

John Mathews
Editorial Team
Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy