The Number Of People Infected With The Zika Virus In Colombia Could Reach 600,000!

Zika is transmitted by the same mosquito as chikungunya and dengue. Although the virus is not fatal, it can cause fetal malformations in pregnant women.

Colombia’s health minister, Alejandro Gaviria, revealed that nationally, the number of patients affected by the Zika virus could reach 450,000 this year, or even 600,000, like the evolution of the chikungunya virus Last year.

Colombia is the second country with the highest number of cases of this epidemic in Latin America. It is preceded by Brazil, which was one of the first to identify it.

The risk is greater for populations below an altitude of 2,200 meters. There is also a special alert for pregnant women.

Transmission of the virus in Colombia began in the second half of 2015. Since then, 429 cases of pregnant women with Zika have been confirmed in the laboratory, while 202 others are suspected of being also affected.

It is then necessary to establish a meticulous medial follow-up of the patients in order to confirm or rule out neurological alterations of the fetus.

In addition, only 30 babies out of 106 deliveries to women diagnosed with Zika virus were unaffected.

The latest information from the National Institute of Health of Colombia (INS) claims that the country has  a total of 13,531 cases of Zika virus.  10,837 were clinically confirmed, 776 were laboratory confirmed and 1918 are suspected carriers.

Latin America on alert …

The Zika virus is native to Africa and Asia. The epidemic is keeping 18 Latin American countries on alert. In addition,  the United States detected 3 cases: two in Miami and one in Hawaii.

Brazil estimates that the figure will increase significantly this year. That newborns will be the most affected by deformities linked to the attack of the virus in pregnant women.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has revealed that suspected cases of microcephaly have reached 3,893 since research began last year.

Among them, 224 cases confirmed the presence of the malformation. However, they continue to be examined to analyze their link with the presence of the virus.

A recent study by the Carlos Chagas Institute  in Brazil also suggests that zika can cross the placenta of pregnant women.  It would therefore endanger the fetus.

Countries such as Mexico, Bolivia, El Salvador or Puerto Rico also expressed their concern about the rapid expansion of the virus from the last months of 2015 to the present day.

The Colombian government also recommended that couples residing in the country avoid pregnancy. Especially during the first six months of this year.  The objective here is to reduce the risk of microcephaly or malformations linked to zika.

Jamaica also made the same request – a country where no cases have yet been reported. The same goes for the Dominican Republic. These countries are also already working on prevention and information campaigns.

In Bolivia, the authorities of the Santa Cruz region declared themselves on orange alert after learning of the official diagnosis of four patients, including a pregnant woman.

For its part, the United States recommended that pregnant mothers avoid visiting 14 of the 20 countries that are on alert for transmission of the virus.

Symptoms of zika usually last 4 to 7 days and are very similar to those of dengue. It is therefore essential to see a doctor immediately if you have:

• Fever.
• Muscle pain.
• Weakness.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Vomited.
• Diarrhea.
• Rashes.

Early detection is in fact decisive in reducing the most serious risks and alleviating symptoms.

The World Health Organization has asked countries infected with the virus to improve the capacity of their laboratories to detect the presence of infection with this virus.

This is achieved by analyzing the polymerase chain reaction – through DNA samples – and isolating the virus from blood samples.

There is no treatment yet to protect against its effects.  Countries like Brazil are working on it, however.