The Epidemiology of Zika Virus in the World: A Comprehensive Review Study

Abstract

Zika virus is an emerging public health threat. The large outbreak related to this infection was first reported in 2007 in Yap Island. This virus is associated with microcephaly, Guillain Barre syndrome and some of the presentations of Zika infection include fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, bilateral conjunctivas, headache, arthritis/arthralgia with edema of tiny joints of feet and hands, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, asthenia and vertigo. In most of the cases, the infection is asymptomatic and self-limited. One of the largest known outbreaks of the virus was reported in French Polynesia, south pacific in October 2013. At the beginning of 2016, more than 52 countries have had reported the active transmission of the Zika virus. In general, there are two transmission modes for the Zika infection: Vector-borne transmission and Non-vector-borne transmission. Some diagnostic tests for Zika infection are RT-PCR, ELISA, and PRNT. Up to now, there is no specific antiviral medicine for the treatment of Zika infection and also no vaccine is available for immunization. As far as we know, more than half of the world’s people live in areas where the Aedes mosquito lives. There is a probability occurrence of the Zika virus epidemic at any time and in any place without prior notice in today’s “global village”. Therefore, health systems in all the involved countries should implement better triage and early warning surveillance systems for morbid cases of Zika to prevent large epidemics and the spread of the virus among mosquitoes and finally to avoid its disastrous consequences.