Zika
Virus is dangerous after all!
Reports
are now surfacing from the Brazilian Health ministry that suggest that persons
infected with Zika Virus are giving birth to babies with birth defects as
reported in the article “Zika
Virus linked to birth defects in Brazil”, published November 30, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.
 |
This
is very big discovery as even the BBC World Service has it covered as reported
in the article “Brazil
links Zika fever to birth defects”, published November 30th 2015, BBC News. Already scientists from the CDC
(Centers for disease control) are in Brazil examining the body of the baby
killed by micro-encephalitis to determine the link between the condition
and Zika Virus.
Btu
what exactly is micro-encephalitis?
Zika Virus causes
micro-encephalitis in Babies - 739 Zika Virus Cases in Brazil and 2 adult
deaths
Microcephaly
is a condition where the size of an infant’s head is smaller than normal due
to slowed or incomplete brain
development as note in the article “CARIBBEAN:
CARPHA continues to appeal to persons to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes”,
published November 30, 2015, St.
Lucia Online.
 |
The
condition is usually hereditary but it can also occur in the fetus is exposed
to infection contracted in the first few months of pregnancy. Brazilian doctors
had found traces of the Zika Virus in the blood and tissues doctors of a baby
with micro-encephalitis.
So
far Brazil has not been faring well against the Zika Virus as noted in the
article “Brazil
finds Zika Virus causes deformities in babies”, published November 29,
2015, Medical Xpress:
1.
739 cases
2.
2 adult deaths
So
what does this really mean? And can this potentially happen in Jamaica!?
Brazil discovers Zika Virus
causes micro-encephalitis in babies – How Zika is now a Baby Killer
Brazil
become the first country in the world, actually to recognize that people have
actually died from a disease that was perceived to be milder version of the
chikungunya Virus. The Zika Virus is related to the Virus that causes Dengue
Fever and it is even transmitted by the same mosquito.
Worse,
it may already be in Jamaica as CARPA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) has
confirmed that there are already five (5) cases is in the Caribbean, possibly
in Jamaica as predicted in my blog article
entitled “CARPHA's
5 Cases of Zika Virus might be Jamaica - Why Zap-a-‘quito needed to educate
people about Zika Virus”.
The
symptoms manifest within three (3) to twelve (12) days after the first bite by
an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Symptoms will last for four (4) to seven (7) days after the initial infection.
The infected experience mild Chikungunya-like symptoms that last for up to four
(4) weeks or longer:
1.
Conjunctivitis
2.
Fever
3.
Headache
4.
Joint and muscle pain
5.
Rash
6.
Swelling of the lower limbs
7.
Weakness
A
diet rich in Vitamin C will boost your immune system against the debilitating
effect of the Zika Virus as explained in my blog article
entitled “Vitamin
C and the Chikungunya Virus - How to increase your Vitamin C Intake,
Glutathione and Interferon by White Blood Cells”.
However,
this latest bit of news proves that babies in the womb can now be added to the
list of those susceptible to the Zika Virus as they too have weak immune system
i.e. babies, children suffering from an illness or elderly persons with other
health problems.
 |
It
was easy for the Ministry of Health to deny that people died from Chikunguyunya
Virus back in 2014 as reported in my blog article
entitled “Jamaica's
Chikungunya Deaths – 14 Deaths in Jamaica, 183 in the Caribbean with Young,
Healthy Deaths difficult to explain”.
It'll
be a lot harder this time around when the Zika Virus finally comes to Jamaica,
possibly by the First Quarter of 2016!
Here’s
the link:
No comments:
Post a Comment