The disease has been reported in about 23 countries and various territories in the Americas. The hardest hit nation has been Brazil with about a million infections while the continental US has reported about 35 cases which have been the result of citizens who had visited the affected areas and came back to the US. Due to globalization, the spread of the virus has been rapid, and there is a need for rapid action. The disease was declared an international health crisis by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2016, the US allocated $1.8 billion emergency fund to come up with rapid response systems, vaccines, and surveillance systems ( Hennessey, Fischer, & Staples, 2016) . Despite the fact that the virus is not considered deadly and may not have intense symptoms, it is quite risky for pregnant mothers. The CDC advised all pregnant women to avoid traveling to any areas affected by the Zika virus. The paper will offer an outline regarding the final project on the Zika Virus.
Nature and Scope of the Zika Virus
The Zika virus was initially reported in Uganda in 1947. The virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito. It is the same species of mosquito that transmits the chikungunya virus, dengue fever, and yellow fever. The Aedes mosquito often bites the infected individual and then spreads the virus to all other people it will bite. The Zika virus outbreak had never occurred outside Africa until 2007 when there was a serious outbreak in the south Pacific. It was never a serious infectious disease until recently. Research has shown that the virus can be traced in saliva, blood, urine, and semen of the infected people ( Fauci & Morens, 2016) . The virus can also be found in the eye fluids.
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The virus caused widespread panic in Brazil since May 2015 when the first case was reported. Since May 2015, about 2100 babies were born with birth defects that were directly linked to the Zika virus ( D’Ortenzio et al., 2016) . The virus has become so severe that several nations that were affected by the virus advised their women to postpone their pregnancies. Research has indicated that a pregnant woman being infected at the early stages of the pregnancy has the worst outcomes because it occurs when the baby’s organs are forming. Moreover, the virus can also affect fetuses later in the pregnancy. Some of the congenital disabilities associated with the Zika virus include too much muscle tone that restricts movement in babies and decreased brain tissues with evidence of calcium deposits which is an indication of brain damage. It may also cause damage to the back of a baby’s eye and limited movements in the joints. About 3200 pregnant women were affected by the Zika virus in the US territories.
Factors Associated with the Zika Virus
There are three main ways through which the virus is spread: mosquito bites, sex, and from a pregnant woman to the fetus. Some researchers claim that the virus can be spread through blood transfusion, but it has not been confirmed. The people affected by the Zika virus may not have or may have mild symptoms. The common symptoms are muscle pain, fever, red eyes, rash, joint pain, and headache ( Hennessey, Fischer, & Staples, 2016) . The symptoms last from a few days to a few weeks. In fact, the infected people may not be sick enough to visit the hospital, and there have been few deaths that are related to the Zika virus. A Zika infection during pregnancy often causes a birth defect of the brain known as microcephaly. It may also cause other birth defects such as stillbirth or miscarriage. It may also lead to Guillain Barre Syndrome, a sickness of the nervous system caused by areas affected by the virus ( Tang et al., 2016) .
The virus has no vaccine, and the best prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. People in the affected regions should wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. They can also buy pre-treated gear and clothing. Insect eepellents may also be effective against mosquito bites. However, the insect repellant should be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If used as directed, the insect eepellents are not only safe for pregnant women but also breast feeding women. But the insect repellants should not be used on babies who are younger than the recommended two months ( D’Ortenzio et al., 2016) . The homes should have proper air conditioning and door and window screens so that mosquitoes are kept outside. The family should ensure they utilize mosquito netting when sleeping or any other mosquito control method. Furthermore, its sexual transmission can be prevented by either abstaining or using condoms.
Organizational Response to the Zika Virus
Various organizations are involved in controlling the spread and treating the virus. The main organizations are the CDC, the United Nations, Pan American Health Organizations (PAHO), and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. All organizations work in a partnership that has set up a strategic response to the Zika outbreak. The response emphasizes on the management and prevention of medical complications associated with the Zika virus. About $125 million is required for the implementation of the Zika Strategic Response Plan. Furthermore, the US government set aside $1.8 billion for the treatment, management, and prevention of the Zika virus ( Fauci & Morens, 2016) . The response plan comprises of four main objectives: Research, detection, care & support, and prevention. The response plan will assist local communities and national governments in the management and preventions of the complications associated with the Zika virus and the imminent socio-economic consequences.
The plans also involve expansion of the healthcare systems in the affected countries because the spread of the virus may have long term financial and health effects for countries, families, and communities. The organizations have also issued travel guidance to everyon traveling to the affected countries and enhanced guidance and precautions for pregnant women ( Avšic Županc & Petrovec, 2016) . The organizations are also vital in funding research and response plans. Some organizations have focused on finding a vaccine such as Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech that has filed for a global patent for their two vaccine candidates. Some organizations are also attempting to come up with a DNA based vaccine that will treat and prevent the infection. Some of the organizations are attempting to use killed Zika virus as vaccine similar to the flu vaccines. If successful, it will become easier to develop vaccines for similar viruses such as the Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever.
Conclusion
The paper offers an outline regarding the final project on the Zika Virus. For a successful campaign against the Zika virus, research should be prioritized after convening various partners and experts in the field. All stakeholders should enhance surveillaneor for the virus and all the related complications. All the affected countries should strengthen their communication capacity so that they can communicate with the local communities about the risks, treatment, and prevention of the virus. Various laboratories in the affected countries should strengthen their capacity to detect occurrences of the Zika virus. Moreover, the health authorities should have adequate vector control strategies that would assist in reducing the population of Ahe Aedes mosquito. There should be proper recommendations regarding the diagnosis, clinical care, and a follow up of individuals were infected with the Zika virus ( Rasmussen et al., 2016) . Nevertheless, all the responses should be made in collaboration with various experts and health authorities.
References
Avšic Županc, T., & Petrovec, M. (2016). Zika: an old virus with a new face. Slovenian Journal of Public Health , 55 (4), 228-230.
D’Ortenzio, E., Matheron, S., de Lamballerie, X., Hubert, B., Piorkowski, G., Maquart, M., & Leparc-Goffart, I. (2016). Evidence of sexual transmission of Zika virus. New England Journal of Medicine , 374 (22), 2195-2198.
Fauci, A. S., & Morens, D. M. (2016). Zika virus in the Americas—yet another arbovirus threat. New England Journal of Medicine , 374 (7), 601-604.
Hennessey, M., Fischer, M., & Staples, J. E. (2016). Zika virus spreads to new areas—region of the Americas, May 2015–January 2016. American Journal of Transplantation , 16 (3), 1031-1034.
Rasmussen, S. A., Jamieson, D. J., Honein, M. A., & Petersen, L. R. (2016). Zika virus and birth defects—reviewing the evidence for causality. N Engl J Med , 2016 (374), 1981-1987.
Tang, H., Hammack, C., Ogden, S. C., Wen, Z., Qian, X., Li, Y., & Christian, K. M. (2016). Zika virus infects human cortical neural progenitors and attenuates their growth. Cell stem cell , 18 (5), 587-590.
