"Malaria kills", "Malaria can be cured", "Use treated mosquito nets" and so many phrases have been used for many generations now here in Kenya and all those countries lying along the Equator. However, behind-the-scenes has established another old yet big little known about by not only Kenyan but the whole world! I have therefore gone outside the boundaries, dig deep in to our real health hazard that is caused by mosquito and now brings you more about this endangered disease that is threatening to kill off every young child on the universe.
Days in the recent past has been filled by the name “Zika virus” a
deadly new identified virus that affects pregnant mothers making them
give birth to babies with microcephaly (a brain disorder).
Babies with this condition have abnormally small heads, resulting in developmental issues and in some cases, death.
The virus is named after the Zika forest in Uganda where it was first discovered.
In 1947, the first ever case of Zika virus was reported in Uganda. It
was found in a monkey. Later this virus was isolated from a human being
in 1954 in Nigeria.
Zika is caused by Aedes aegypti mosquito. Its linked to thousands of
babies born with birth defects more children born with relatively small
heads a condition medically known us microcephaly.
This mosquito has for long been known as the yellow fever mosquito which is common in parts of Rift valley in Kenya.
The Aedes mosquito does not need natural water to breed as it lays eggs in the small and plentiful pools of stagnant water.
Prior to 2015, Zika virus outbreaks have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an
alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infections in Brazil.
Zika virus will continue to spread and it will be difficult to
determine how the virus will spread over time. Currently, outbreaks are
occurring in many countries.
Fatalities due to the virus are uncommon and the symptoms are
often too mild to require hospitalization even though there is no
medical way of protecting yourself against the virus as there is no
commercial vaccine available so far.
Though Kenya health experts say that the country is “safe”, WHO
Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan said, that meanwhile, Zika is
“spreading explosively” and it could affect many countries in the world
including Kenya.
Dr Chan said in the special gathering that preventing mosquitoes from
breeding and protecting oneself from mosquito bites is the best
protection.
“It is an emerging virus and things are definitely going to change.
Due to our experience with mosquito-borne viruses we can anticipate that
the number of people with the virus is going to grow,” said Dr Chan,
She added that these mosquitoes bite both at night and during the day
saying it is an extra ordinary event that needed a coordinated
response.
“I am now declaring that the recent cluster of microcephaly and other
neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America following a
similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014 constitutes a public health
emergency of international concern”, she said.
Chan added that priorities were to protect pregnant women and their
babies from harm and to control the mosquitoes that are spreading the
virus.
In an exclusive interview with Behind-the-Scenes, The Uasin Gishu County Malaria Coordinator and Disease Surveillance Officer Mr. Joshua Tarus revealed that currently there is no
vaccine nor medication to stop the spread of Zika virus.
Tarus added that the signs of Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis among others.
The Center for Deasese Control (CDC) states that just like Malaria,
Zika virus is mosquito – borne. This means that when an Aedes mosquito
bites an infected person, it then passes the virus on to all other
people that it bites.
The infected person is only a carrier if they show symptoms, after
that, chances are low that they could pass the disease on to others.
Unborn children are at special risk because they can get infected
with the dangerous virus through their mother’s amniotic fluid.
The CDC continues to states that the virus can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse, labour and laboratory exposure.
It’s feared that Zika may become pandemic if concerted efforts are
not put by the international community thus a catastrophe in waiting.
No wonder, some governments in Latin America have advised women not
to get pregnant for months or years following the risk of birth defects
from Zika virus.
It is suspected that there is a link between expectant mothers
getting Zika and their babies being born with abnormally small head.
This situation can be deadly as children who survive face intellectual
disability, vision problems and development delays.
Just recently, France based Drug Maker Sanofi Pasteur announced that
it’s starting an effort to research and develop a vaccine to prevent the
mosquito borne virus.
