Zika Virus - Medtick
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Zika Virus

What is it?

A mild symptom viral condition which may have serious consequences.

  • If one is pregnant, it is believed to cause birth defects and neurological disorders.

The virus is from a mosquito bite called Aedes aegypti.

Countries affected are:

Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cuba
  • Curaçao
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Grenada
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Montserrat
  • Puerto Rico
  • Saba
  • Saint Barthelemy (French Territorial Collectivity)
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin (French Territorial Collectivity)
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Sint Maarten
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • US Virgin Islands

North America

  • Mexico
  • United States of America (Alaska, Hawaii, Oahu, Maui)

Central America

  • Belize
  • Costa Rica
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama

 

South America

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile (Easter Island)
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador (Galapagos Islands)
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Venezuela (Margarita Island)

Africa

  • Angola
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • Togo
  • Uganda

Asia

  • Bangladesh
  • Laos
  • Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah)
  • Maldives
  • Myanmar
  • India
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Australasia and Pacific

  • American Samoa
  • Federated States Of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • French Polynesia
  • Marshall Islands
  • New Caledonia
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Samoa
  • Solomon Islands
  • Tonga
  • Vanuatu
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be used under medical supervision if this a confirmed case of Zika virus. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication to make sure it suitable for you. This condition an be mistaken for Dengue, Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs cannot be used in Dengue due to increase chance of stomach bleeding and in the very young Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can increase chance of Reye syndrome (rare disorder that affects all organs of the body but is most harmful to the brain and the liver—causing an acute increase of pressure within the brain and, often, massive accumulations of fat in the liver and other organs).

Cause

  • Virus:
    • Flavivirus (from Aedes aegypti mosquito)
  • Sexual intercourse including anal and oral (rare).

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C, 100°F, greater than 72 hours, chills and sweats?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Swollen or sticky eye or sensitive to light?
  • Swollen lymph glands (lumps on side of neck, armpits, and groin) and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
  • New rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worst?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for ambulance if have or develop:

Pregnancy

  • If you are pregnant, you should postpone non-essential travel to this country.
  • If you are planning pregnancy, or there is a possibility you may be pregnant, you should use contraception and condoms during travel and for:
    • 2 months afterwards if you are female
    • 3 months afterwards if you are male
  • These measures reduce the chance of sexual transmission of ZIKV and/or the risk of ZIKV infection in pregnancy.

If one believes they have got pregnant or is pregnant and has visited  the areas above and show symptoms above, please see your doctor

fitfor travel

Advice for All Travellers

  • All travellers should practice strict mosquito bite avoidance at all times.
  • Do not travel without adequate travel insurance.
  • Seek pre-travel health advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel.

fitfor travel

This condition can lead to small and/or undeveloped brains and heads in babies.

Symptoms include:

  • Developmental delays, including problems with speech and other developmental milestones such as sitting, standing, or walking
  • Intellectual disability
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Hearing loss
  • Feeding problems, including difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Impaired growth

This condition may show similar symptom to (small head features):

Small head

Small head (broad and/or narrow forehead) and flat back skull

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Zika Virus in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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