Zika is raising alarm bells in Singapore right
now. Like
Dengue, Zika spreads like wildfire in this tropic mosquito hotbed
we call home, and while the symptoms of the virus are mild for
most, there is serious risk involved for unborn
babies. As
if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the lingering threat
of Haze! Many don’t know a great deal about the virus and
its effects, but knowledge is power, and what we need is
information and practical advice straight from the experts. We
sat down with Professor Arijit Biswas (the Head of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology at the National University Hospital), and Dr. Michelle
Turvey (an Australian postdoctoral associate in infectious diseases
at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).
Want clear and concise information about Zika, practical tips for
preventing infection, and what it means for those of you trying for
a baby? Read on.
And with mosquito repellent sold out in Singapore,
we’re happy to announce a 20% discount for HoneyKids readers
on NZ
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What is
Zika and how is it transmitted?
Dr. Turvey: Zika belongs to
the Flaviviridae family of viruses,
which includes the better-known members Dengue, West Nile and
Yellow Fever viruses. Zika infection generally results in a mild
disease, with many not experiencing any symptoms at all. It’s not a
new virus; reported cases date back to the 1950s.
Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of the
female Aedes mosquito where the virus
is present in the blood carried by the mosquito from an infected
individual to another human host. Aedes mosquito species are found in Singapore and bite
during the day.
What are
the symptoms of Zika that we should look out for? Do all people
bitten by a Zika infected mosquito fall ill?
Dr. Turvey: Some people
infected with Zika will not even know. The majority of Zika
infections are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic with complaints
such as slight fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pains,
headaches and redness of the eyes. Sickness lasts between four to
seven days and may start three to 12 days after the mosquito bite.
The consequences can be more serious for pregnant women infected
with Zika, with evidence linking Zika to microcephaly of the unborn
foetus. Refer to the Ministry for Health’s webpage (www.moh.gov.sg/zika) for the
latest health advisory and seek medical attention if you are
feeling unwell.
image:
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You’ll sleep better at night
knowing that if your little one gets Zika the symptoms will be mild
at worst.
If you
suspect you’re infected with Zika where should you go and what
tests are available? What is the treatment?
Professor Biswas: If
you think you have symptoms of Zika, go straight to a GP clinic.
After assessment the doctor may send a sample of your urine for a
RT-PCR test for Zika RNA (reverse-transcription polymerase chain
reaction). While the test can be positive in blood samples for the
first few days, it remains positive in urine samples for up to two
weeks. Unlike countries where related mosquito-borne viral
infections like Dengue are not common (such as the US), Zika
antibody testing is not useful and not done in Singapore. Such
antibody tests may be falsely positive in patients who have
previously had Dengue or Chikungunya.
Zika is a very mild viral infection for most adults and
children and so doesn’t require treatment. Like Dengue, no specific
anti-Zika viral medicine is currently available.
What are
the effects on babies born to mothers infected with Zika during
pregnancy? Is there any evidence to suggest children and adults may
also be affected (brain function or otherwise)?
Professor
Biswas: There’s now reasonably good evidence that Zika
infection, particularly during the earlier part of pregnancy, may
infect the unborn baby. The virus might affect developing brain
cells and lead to development of microcephaly (small head). It can
also cause a host of derangements in the formation of the
developing brain such as muscle and joint problems like clubfeet
and stiffened joints in the baby. The exact risk of abnormality is
not known but is somewhere between one and 10 percent of all cases
of pregnancy with Zika infection. When infection occurs in the
third trimester, it is very unlikely to cause fetal abnormalities.
But in some cases, it may cause impaired placental function and
restriction of fetal growth.
Currently there’s no evidence that Zika infection has
any significant harmful effects on children. I liken it to German
measles (Rubella), where infection in early pregnancy can lead to
serious fetal abnormalities in babies, but it is a minor illness in
children. In adults, Zika, like many other viral illnesses, can
very rarely cause a condition of temporary paralysis called
Guillain-Barre syndrome (in one in every few thousand cases).
image:
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Professor Biswas has great
expert tips to help the pregnant women of Singapore avoid Zika
infection.
Australia and the US have issued a warning
against pregnant women travelling to Singapore. Do you have any
practical advice for pregnant women living in Singapore to prevent
contracting Zika?
Professor Biswas:
Many
women are concerned about the effect of Zika on future pregnancies.
How long should couples wait after contracting Zika before trying
for a baby?
Professor
Biswas: Zika infection does not affect future pregnancies
provided you do not conceive too soon. Women who have had Zika
infection should avoid falling pregnant for eight weeks, while
infected men should avoid getting their partners pregnant for six
months. The difference is because the virus might remain in the
semen for a longer period of time. During this time, practise safe
sex with proper use of condoms.
Is work
underway on a Zika vaccine?
Dr. Turvey: Researchers
at SMART Infectious Diseases and many other research institutes and
universities worldwide, are working very hard to develop a vaccine
and against the Zika virus. Human clinical trials are underway
globally as we speak. Other promising treatments in development
include therapeutic antibodies, which bind to the Zika virus and
help our immune system to clear the infection before it can take
hold.
Research is also underway to better understand the Zika
virus and how it infects and replicates within the host, so we are
better equipped to design smarter and more effective preventative
and therapeutic drugs against the disease.
image:
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