Question

*Respond must be a minimum of 400 words*

Since 2015 there have been multiple outbreaks of zika virus in North and South Americas. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedesmosquito. In 2016 the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond to outbreaks and track the incidence birth defects in affected areas. Please answer the following questions using the information presented in the case study: The Path of a Pathogen.

• What are five distinct ways that Zika can be transmitted?
• What strategies can be used to prevent transmission of the Zika virus?
• Two of the major complications associated with Zika virus are microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Describe each of these conditions.
• What is the current state of Zika vaccine research?
• If you were the head of the Department of Public Health for the state of Florida, what would be your top three priorities in dealing with an epidemic? Explain your choices.

Answer 1

Answer 1. Zika can be transmitted by the five distinct way-

1. Through mosquito bites-

It is the main reason of the spread of Zika virus. It spread through infected Aedes species mosquito like Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus. These mosquito lays egg in stagnant water bodies like pond and sewerage. These mosquito bite during the day and night time. When a person is infected with Zika virus and this mosquito bite that person in first week of infection the mosquito get infected and spread virus to other person.

2. Through Sex-

Zika can be passed through sex from the infected person to his or her partner even when the symptoms are not visible.

3. From mother to child –

Virus can be passed during pregnancy to fetus which can cause the child the microcephaly and other fetal brain defect.   

4. Through blood transfusion-

Zika is spread through blood transfusion if infected blood is transferred to healthy individual.

5. Through Lab-

Some of the cases of laboratory acquired zika is found in the world.

Answer 2.

Strategy to prevent transmission-

Mosquito bite should be avoided.

Safe sex

Safe blood transfusion

Avoid areas where transmission rate is higher

Answer .3

Two condition associated with zika are-

Microcephaly-

     It is the condition where the head of infant is smaller than normal. This condition is caused by the genetic abnormalities caused by the infected mother when the fetus get infected. In this disease brain tissues of fetus get damaged during pregnancy.

Guillain Barre Syndrome –

Is a disorder in which body’s immune system attack on nerve. These sensation can be spread quick and lead to paralyzing whole body.

Answer 4.

Current state of Zika virus vaccine –

A new purified ZPIV (ZIka vaccine) is developed by the Walter Reen Army institute of research.

A DNA based vaccine developed by NIAID’s Vaccine Research Center.

A vaccine to protect mosquito born disease has been introduced, it is an investigational vaccine, called AGS-v. It was developed by the pharmaceutical company SEEK. AGS-v triggers an immune response to salivary protein of mosquito not the zika virus. The test vaccine contains four protein from salivary gland of mosquito. This protein induces the antibodies in vaccinated person and cause modified allergic response which can prevent infection when that person is bitten by infected mosquito.