Zika virus: a challenge to feto-maternal health care

Abstract

Background: The wide spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) is a public concern because of possibility of mother to child transmission and risk of birth defects. Zika has caused a devastating impact around the globe with severe sequelae in the general population. Although zika is self-limiting infection associated with miscarriages and neonatal deaths. However recent report suggested it can be potentially associated with Guillan-Barre and microcephaly syndrome.
Aim: The epidemiological evidence indicating the possibility of an association between ZIKV infection and the occurrence of microcephaly in fetuses of affected mothers is a sufficiently alarming challenge that requires an urgent joint effort from all areas of healthcare directly or indirectly linked to the diagnosis and care of pregnant women and newborn.
Methodology: The diagnosis of Zika virus is established via real-time reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing for Zika viral RNA or serology.
Result: Between October 2015 and march 2016 a total of 6776 cases of microcephaly and central nervous system malformation were reported by brazil including 208 death,
investigation have been concluded for 2485 cases and 944 in 21 out of 27 states were confirmed with microcephaly and CNS suggestive of congenital infection. This contrast with the period from 2001 to 2014,when an average of 163 microcephaly cases was recorded nationwide.
Conclusion: There is no specific treatment for Zika virus infection, currently vector control seem to be the most effective available preventive measure against ZIKV spread.