|
Merseyside consultant joining the global
fight against Zika virus
A Consultant at
the Royal and Fellow of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Dr Tom Blanchard,
will be working alongside local health partners and neighbouring Universities to
provide expert knowledge and support work developing a Zika vaccine candidate.
The vaccine candidate will be based on a safe derivative of the smallpox
vaccine, which was used in the only successful campaign to date to bring about
the global eradication of an infectious disease.
The Zika virus is a mosquito borne infection, which isn't harmful in most cases.
However, there are concerns for pregnant women travelling to the Pacific region,
South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the Cape Verde Islands off West
Africa as contracting the virus has been linked to birth defects specifically,
abnormally small heads (microcephaly).
It was 1st detected in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947, and has circulated in
Africa and South and South East Asia without many documented outbreaks reported.
In the last few years, Zika outbreaks have been reported in the Pacific region,
and the virus has now spread to South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
Dr Tom Blanchard, Consultant in Infectious Diseases said:- "The infection
can be pretty mild and people can catch it without realising. Signs and symptoms
to be aware of can include an unusual rash, joint pain, itchy eyes and a
temperature. If left untreated, the infection will usually clear within a couple
of days. However the risks to pregnant women are much more serious, as the virus
can lead to birth defects. This also means that male partners returning from
affected areas should use condoms for 28 days to avoid unwittingly transmitting
the virus, given that there is a small but definite risk of sexual transmission,
and for 6 months if they experience symptomatic Zika. It is recommended that
pregnant women postpone non essential travel to areas with active Zika virus
transmission. If you travel to an affected area, you can reduce your risk of
catching the virus by using insect repellent and wearing loose clothing that
covers your arms and legs."
The World Health Organisation has advised that Zika virus is likely to spread to
all countries in the Americas where the climate is suitable for the affected
mosquitoes. There is no known immediate threat to those living in the UK as the
climate is not suitable for the species of mosquito that transmit the infection.
Most people don't have any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are usually mild
and last around 2 to 7 days.
Commonly reported symptoms include:-
► A low grade fever.
► Joint pain (with possible swelling, mainly in the smaller joints of the hands
and feet).
► Itching.
► Rash, which is sometimes itchy.
► Conjunctivitis (red eyes).
► Headache.
► Eye pain.
Detailed travel health advice for your destination is also available from the
National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website or the Scottish
travel health service fitfortravel.
Alternatively for more information on the Zika Virus can be found on the NHS
Choices
website.
|
